Food poisoning: Minister Shivalli admitted to KIMS

HUBBALLI: Minister for municipal administration C S Shivalli was admitted to Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences after he fell ill late on Sunday night.
According to sources, Shivalli, who is also the Kundagol MLA, took part in a programme at Karadikoppa village in Hubballi taluk on Sunday evening.
He was served upma after the programme. As he finished some portion of it, he said it tasted bitter and kept it aside.After a few minutes, he felt nauseous and complained of dizziness. He was rushed to KIMS and admitted at the Cathlab’s special room.
The minister’s gunman and personal assistant also suffered from the same symptoms after having upma and were also treated.
KIMS director Dr Ramlingappa told TOI, “The minister is recovering and will be discharged from the hospital any time now. It looks like a case of food poisoning. The snack he had consumed was washed out from the stomach and sent for IFSL lab for testing.”
On Monday, Shivalli spoke to reporters at the hospital and said he was recovering and that he doesn’t suspect anyone’s hand in the incident. “I don’t blame anyone. The future course of action will be decided once the doctors give the report,” he said.
Deputy commissioner Deepa Cholan told TOI that she spoke to the doctors who informed her that the minister’s condition was stable and he was recovering well. A sample of the snack has been sent to a lab for testing and based on the lab report action will be taken, she said.
Only Shivalli, his staff fell ill
Sources said the programme which Shivalli attended was a private one. Food was prepared for a large gathering but only Shivalli, his gunman and his personal assistant fell ill raising suspicion among the public. Sources also said that Shivalli’s personal assistant and gunman had the same upma from Shivalli’s plate. Police sources said Shivalli was not ready to reveal anything about the incident. He was reluctant to share information with police. Police sources said unless he gives any complaint it would be difficult for them to launch an investigation.
History with ‘poisoning’
In 2002, Shivalli had accused his rivals of attempting to poison him. He had alleged that his rivals had promised Rs 5 lakh to a person who used to run an eatery in the Legislators’ Home to kill him. The Vidhana Soudha police had registered an abetment to murder case then.