Advocate Vinod B., also an anti-graft activist, has filed a criminal defamation complaint against K.S. Eshwarappa, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, with the Second Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court here on Thursday.

In December 2012, Mr. Vinod had lodged a complaint against Mr. Eshwarappa with the Special Lokayukta Court here alleging that the later had amassed assets disproportionate to his known source of income by misusing his power. Mr. Vinod had also lodged a complaint with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 8 seeking a probe into the alleged benami assets owned by Mr. Eshwarappa and his family members abroad.

Mr. Eshwarappa had recently alleged in a press conference that Mr. Vinod was trying to blackmail him by lodging a complaint with the Enforcement Directorate. In the complaint lodged with the JMFC Court, Mr. Vinod has said that Mr. Eshwarappa has brought disrepute to him by calling him a blackmailer.