BR Shetty deeply hurt as Anupama Shenoy drags him to CM’s watch row

Udupi, Aug 1: Former DySP Anupama Shenoy has once again managed to grab the media attention by claiming that Rs 70-lakh diamond-studded Hublot watch that had triggered a row last year in Karnataka was a gift to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by NRI business magnet Dr B R Shetty.

It may be recalled here that when the Opposition parties had raked up the watch issue. Siddaramaiah had revealed that a Dubai-based surgeon Dr Girish Pillai Chandra Verma had gifted the watch, despite his refusal. He also had handed over the gifted watch as state asset.

But, now Anupama alleges that Dr Verma works as a cardiologist at the NMC Healthcare, Dubai run by Dr Shetty and this was the sole "reason" for Siddaramaiah for awarding two major projects to Dr Shetty. The two projects include developing one of Udupi's oldest hospitals and also Rs 450 crore project to make Jog Falls, an all season spectacle. Anupama alleged that these two projects were awarded in a hurry and this was a "return gift" for the hublot watch.

Expressing shock over the allegations made by the former cop, Dr Shetty said that he was deeply hurt by the baseless claims and apparent attempt to malign his image. “I don't know her at all. In such a circumstance, how can she make such accusations against me?” he said.

“I had given an offer to the CM to have a charity hospital and a specialty hospital to be run by me, constructed by me to help the poorest of the poor get best of the medical care. The proposal also included a specialty hospital, that would also ensure the sustainability of the charity hospital," he said.

"This project came to fruition after I had long discussions with the Health Minister, involving Udupi MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, the District Surgeon and others. It's a way of my giving back to the society where I hail from," Shetty reiterated. The hospital is being handed to Shetty on a lease period of 30 years.