Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Oct 15: Home minister Dr V S Acharya said here on Tuesday October 14 that law will take its own course in the criminal case filed by Karwar tahsildar against minister Anand V Asnotikar relating to filing wrong affidavit. He however, stressed that Asnotikar will be the BJP candidate for the by-election.

The tahsildar had taken this action after the election commission, which received complaints from the Congress party, asked him to act in the issue.

Acharya expressed the view that the case against Asnotikar will not stand the test of law. He also said that he would not like to comment further, in view of the two criminal cases, one about the affidavit and another about a murder, filed against Asnotikar, are in the courts. Although the chargesheets in the cases were filed during the Congress administration, the party now wants to extract political mileage by repeatedly raking up the issue, he opined.

Speaking to newsmen here, primary and secondary education minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said that Asnotikar will face punishment if it is proved that he had filed wrong information in the affidavit. "Our government will extend full cooperation for the investigation," he announced.

He however, stressed the fact that Asnotikar will be fielded by the BJP in the by-poll and expressed the confidence that he would win. "Both the Congress and the JD (S) have been issuing unfounded statements, out of frustration. The allegations against Asnotikar lack in substance. Let the election commission investigate and take action as it might deem fit, we have no objections," Kageri clarified.