On Monday, Chakravarthy Sulibele, a prominent right-wing activist and head of the Namo Brigade in Karnataka, unveiled information about an alleged cheating incident involving firebrand activist Chaitra Kundapura and businessman Govind Babu Poojary. According to Sulibele, Kundapura and her associates had purportedly promised Poojary a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket to contest the recent Assembly polls in exchange for a significant sum of money.
Sulibele claims to have been aware of this incident three months ago, as he considered Poojary a close friend. He expressed shock and dismay upon learning the details of how Poojary was allegedly deceived by Kundapura and her associates. In response to this troubling revelation, Sulibele took action and informed former BJP national secretary C T Ravi about the incident.
In a statement to the media, Sulibele stated, “I knew about Chaitra Kundapura cheating Poojary three months ago. He is a good friend of mine. I was shocked when he shared how he was cheated. I had also informed C T Ravi about the incident. Ravi told me that people should know that tickets will not be distributed for money and there is nothing wrong (in the public learning about the incident).”
However, Chakravarthy Sulibele now finds himself embroiled in controversy following the circulation of a photograph featuring him alongside one of the accused in the ongoing BJP ticket scandal. The photograph showed Sulibele alongside G M Abhinava Halaveerappajja, a seer associated with the Halashri Mutt. Sulibele has vehemently denied any connection between the photograph and the case, stating that his association with various religious leaders was unrelated to the allegations against Chaitra Kundapura and her associates.
“I am in contact with a lot of seers in the state, but it has nothing to do with the case,” Sulibele clarified in response to the photo circulating on social media.
The controversy deepened further when a photograph featuring businessman Govind Babu Poojary, the seer Abhinava Halaveerappajja, and former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa also went viral on Monday. The backdrop of this photograph added more intrigue to the unfolding scandal, prompting questions about the relationships between the individuals involved.
Kundapura and five others have already been arrested on charges of allegedly cheating Poojary out of Rs 5 crore by promising him a BJP ticket to contest in the Byndoor Assembly segment during the Assembly elections held earlier this year in May.
Sulibele has maintained his innocence and asserted that there are no financial connections between him and Kundapura. He expressed a willingness to cooperate with any investigations, stating, “If the Central Crime Branch (CCB) asks me, I will provide the information that I know. The seer Abhinava Halaveerappajja has been arrested in Odisha today.”
