After helicopter and railway track, Karnataka legislator acquires hi-tech bus

Suspended BJP MLC in Karnataka G Janardhan Reddy, who made waves in political circles when he bought a helicopter and laid private seven-kilometre railway track, has now acquired a hi-tech bus at a cost of Rs 40 million.

Reddy, who was suspended from the BJP after he accused Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his Cabinet colleagues of involvement in the Rs 1.5 billion mining bribery scam, is planning to embark upon a state-wide tour shortly on board the hi-tech bus to expose the “corrupt deeds” of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his family members.

The ultra-modern, specially designed high-security luxury bus is understood to be not only bullet proof, but also resistant to landmine and bomb blasts.

Reddy, who claims to enjoy the support of even BJP MPs and MLAs for his state-wide tour, is scheduled to begin his “yatra” from Kudalasangama, a prominent pilgrim centre in Bidar district of Karnataka. During the yatra, which is expected to cover all the districts of the State before culminating in Kumaraswamy’s home constituency of Ramanagaram, Reddy plans to hold rallies to expose the “misdeeds” of Deve Gowda and his family.

But, the ultra-modern bus used by Reddy for the tour is expected to be the highlight of the yatra. The specially designed bus has a pantry, a bed-room with an attached bathroom, a refrigerator, besides provision to install a satellite phone and a kitchen. Apart from a television set, a DVD and audio-player systems, the bus has a public address system too.

Meanwhile, JD (S) spokesman Y S V Datta has filed a complaint before the Lokayukta against Janardhan Reddy for giving a false declaration of his assets and liabilities to the Election Commission before becoming a member of the legislative council.

After scrutinizing the complaint, Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde has issued a notice to Reddy.