Bellary, Karnataka, July 28 (UNI) A lower court here today admitted the private defamation criminal case filed by suspended BJP MLC G Janardhana Reddy against Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Home Minister M P Prakash and Forests Minister C Chennigappa, without naming their designations.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Junior Division Judge U Chandrasekhar recorded the sworn statement of Mr Reddy in connection with the petition and admitted the case as cognizable, before adjourning it to August 10.

The court allowed Mr Reddy to make further statements if he felt it necessary and the witnesses, appearing on behalf of Mr Reddy, to substantiate the defamation case.

Mr Reddy had filed the case on July 24 under Section 200 of the CrPC against the three as they had termed him mentally imbalanced following his recent bribery allegations against them.

Mr Reddy had initially accused Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Chennigappa of receiving a bribe of Rs 150 crore from the mining lobby in the district and Mr Prakash's involvement in the illegal mining operations, creating a furore in the State. Though subsequently he retracted his statement following the intervention of top BJP leaders, Mr Reddy again reiterated his charge in the Legislative Council.

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