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Friday, February 26, 2016

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Hublot Watch


Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Thursday February 25,2016 that the expensive Hublot watch he wore was gifted to him by an old friend — a Dubai-based cardiac surgeon, Dr Girish

Chandra Varma. Reacting to the Opposition’s claims that the watch was worth Rs 70 lakh, he said it costs nearly Rs 7 lakh and added that its ownership will be a part of his asset and income declarations this year before the Karnataka Lokayukta and the Income Tax Department. He said that he would declare it a state asset and deposit it with the state secretariat.

Siddaramaiah said that during his visit to Bangalore in July 2015, Dr Varma, who he claimed to have known since 1983, had removed the Hublot he was wearing and gifted it to Siddaramaiah.
It is essentially a “second-hand watch” and the original would be worth around 35,000 dirhams in Dubai, he said, adding that documents regarding its purchase will be provided to authorities during declaration of assets. An affidavit regarding the watch’s origin will also be provided soon to the Lokayukta, he said

Siddaramaiah hands over luxury watch to Speaker Wednesday March 02,2016


In a frantic effort to scupper moves by BJP leaders to raise the controversial issue of his luxe wristwatch in Parliament, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah handed over his diamond-studded Hublot watch to Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa in the Legislative Assembly and declared it a state asset on Wednesday March 02,2016

Karnataka Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimappa looks at the Hublot watch during the Assembly session in Bengaluru on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI) 

Karnataka Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimappa looks at the Hublot watch during the Assembly session in Bengaluru on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI)

With Opposition legislators digging their heels in for the second consecutive day on their demand for a discussion on the gift received by the Chief Minister from a Dubai-based doctor, Siddaramaiah passed on the wristwatch and his letter declaring it a state asset to Thimmappa who subsequently handed them over to chief secretary, Arvind Jadhav. 

The watch would henceforth be displayed in the cabinet hall

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