Bengaluru: The CM, in a combat mode, handed over his ‘expensive gift’, a Hublot that had brought him in eye of storm, to the Speaker on Wednesday.

The watch became a major political discussion after JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy first pointed out publicly that Siddaramaiah, who claims to be a socialist sports a Rs 70 lakh worth Hublot.

Even as the CM explained that the Hublot Big Bang-301-M was gifted to him by his Dubai-based doctor friend Dr Girish Chandra Varma as a personal gift, the opposition refused to relent and continued its attack.

As a measure to avoid further embarrassment, the CM declared it as a “Government Asset” and handed it over to Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa during joint session and in a letter addressed to the Speaker, the CM has said that the diamond studded watch costing Rs 70 lac was a pre-owned one.

He has requested the Speaker to forward the watch to the to the Chief Secretary so that it could be placed in the State Cabinet Hall.

In the letter, the CM further clarified that, the watch was purely gifted on personal grounds from Dr Varma, who is a three decade old friend and that Dr Varma, a non-resident Indian based in Dubai has no official dealings with the Government of Karnataka or any of its organisations.