Basanagouda Daddal, missing two days after ED raid, attends Assembly session on first day

BENGALURU: Congress MLA and Basanagouda Doddal Maharshi Valmiki Schedule Tribe Development Corporation chairman, who had remained elusive for two days since Saturday, after the Enforcement Directorate raid on his residence, resurfaced at Vidhana Soudha today to attend the first day of the legislative Assembly session.

Daddal reportedly went to Mantralaya from his hometown Raichur, and thereafter remained incommunicado even as the ED was looking for him in Bengaluru and Raichur. Daddal had been served an SIT notice to present himself before today in connection with the alleged corruption in the corporation.

When journalists asked him about his sudden disappearance today, Doddal said, “I came to attend the session. I didn’t receive any ED or SIT notices, but the investigation is going on. They didn’t say anything else. I am not involved in the case, the ED has filed a complaint against me. I have given an explanation to the SIT and cooperated with the investigation”.

Daddal met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the latter’s chamber in the Vidhana Soudha. Then, he directly entered the Assembly hall from the CM’s chamber and participated in the proceedings.

As per rules, an MLA cannot be arrested when attending the Assembly. Investigating officers should bring to the attention of the Assembly Speaker if an MLA is facing and inquiry and seek permission for further proceedings. MLAs also cannot be handcuffed inside the House during the session.

Daddal was allegedly in touch with the eighth accused in the alleged corruption case on WhatsApp. The lawyer for the accused has sought an investigation into it. However, Basanagouda Daddal has maintained that he knows nothing about the scam.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), last Wednesday, issued a notice to him to join the investigation and had raided his residences in Bengaluru and Raichur.