The Congress on Friday sought an investigation by the Lokpal into a media report that alleged bribes of Rs 1,800 crore were paid by former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa to the BJP’s top brass. Yeddyurappa rubbished it as “atrocious and malicious” allegations. The report was based on the alleged contents of a diary that, it said, had been with income tax department since 2017. But, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) also issued a statement saying that the pages were false and fabricated.

Earlier, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said it was time the Government got the Yeddyurappa diary probed by an independent agency. “If there is no truth in this diary, why isn’t PM Modi ready for an investigation? Now, even the Lokpal is appointed. Why can’t the first independent investigation be on this issue?” Surjewala added. Congress president Rahul Gandhi also accused all BJP leaders of being “corrupt” and cited a media report that claimed former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa had allegedly paid bribes to the tune of Rs 1,800 crore to the top party leadership. “All ‘chowkidars’ (watchmen) of the BJP are thieves. NoMo. Arun Jaitley. Rajnath Singh...,”he tweeted, tagging the report.

Responding to the charge, Yeddyurappa said that the documents cited by the Congress are forged. “The Congress party and its leaders are bankrupt of ideas, they are frustrated with growing popularity of the Modi ji, they have lost the battle before it began. I-T Department officials have already proved that the documents are forged and fake,”  Yeddyurappa said. The BJP leader said that the allegation has been already inquired into by the Income Tax department and it has been found that documents are “fake” and claimed it as a”closed chapter”. 

BJP president Amit Shah claimed that after all the “fake” issues have collapsed, “the desperate are now relying on forgery”. “The Congress campaign is in shambles. Now even forgery can’t save them. Few loose sheets given by a Congress Minister is only as credible and reliable as Rahul Gandhi’s leadership skills,” Shah claimed on Twitter.

Earlier, Surjewala,  said PM Modi should come forward and clarify. “Prima facie, this is a case of investigating all BJP leaders, right from the PM and downwards. It is a fit case to be investigated by the newly appointed Lokpal,” Surjewala said, waving a copy of the ‘expose’ at the press conference. “The ball is in the PM’s court. He must decide whether chowkidar chor hai ya chowkidar jaanch ke liye taiyaar hai (or the chowkidar is ready for an investigation),” Surjewala added.

In a statement, the CBDT said: “He (Yeddyurappa) stated that he was not in the habit of writing a dairy and that the loose sheets in question were not in his handwriting. “He denied his handwriting and signatures on the loose sheets.

He further stated that contents of the loose sheets were false and fabricated and his name has been used to malign his political career. He also provided a sample of his handwriting in order to verify the genuineness of the said loose sheets,” it said.

Reacting to the report on the payoffs from former BJP Chief Minister to BJP’s central leadership, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitarama Yechury said that Lokpal and EC should probe matter.

He said that these are very serious cases of corruption involving the top most leaders of the BJP. If true, this calls for strictest action.