Bengaluru: Congress strongman and former major irrigation minister D K Shivakumar has filed a defamation suit against BJP leader, Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for a whopping Rs 204 crores. The case has been filed in connection with Yatnal’s claim that the former is trying to join the BJP to wriggle out of the IT and ED cases.

DKShi filed the case with the Kanakapura sessions court by paying a court fee of Rs 1,07,04,000 through cheque.

In his petition, DKShi alleged that Yatnal defamed him by making a falsely stating that he is joining the BJP to save himself from the various cases.

On June 23, Yatnal had alleged that DKShi is in touch with the BJP’s national leadership and is helping the party form the new government in Karnataka.

This irked the former minister, prompting him to move to the court against his statement.

The next hearing of the case will be on September 18.