Demands to probe all KSDL tenders under Madal gain traction

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Members of civil society have put forth their demand that all tenders that were issued by the state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) under the chairmanship of BJP MLA from Channagiri Madal Virupakshappa be investigated.

The organisation ‘Jai Kannadiga’ (JK) made the demand, adding that the tenders granted were all suspect since the MLA’s son Prashanth, chief accountant of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 40 lakh bribe last week, allegedly on behalf of his father. The bribe is suspected to have been asked of companies who wanted to land a contract to provide raw materials to the state-run company.

Karnataka Lokayukta had been tipped-off by another company about this. JK president RG Somashekhar Gowda said that Madal, who has since quit as the chairman, MD Mahesh S, who had his residence raided by Lokayukta, and KSDL Purchasing Committee (PC) should all be probed. However, the latter hasn’t even been mentioned in the investigation so far.

“All tenders must be investigated. Every year, they call tenders worth Rs 700 crore. Whatever irregularities have occurred therein must be looked at. There is something called the Purchase Committee (PC). They haven’t arrested members of this committee.

The approvals are in fact granted by this PC. He (Madal) put pressure on them and got the result he wanted,” he said. Gowda pointed out that KSDL’s most famous product Mysore Sandal Soap was launched during the reign of the Wodeyars. He called the soap brand “a source of pride”, adding that scam tainting KSDL was therefore especially hurting the people of the state.

Earlier, Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited Employees Union (KSDLEU) president GR Shivashankar had alleged that a scam worth Rs 300 crore had taken place in the company because tender prices had been raised artificially in return for kickbacks. He had added that raw materials had been procured at inflated prices as well.