Investigate ‘scams’, Congress told as party faces heat

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: The Congress, which rode to power on the back of anti-incumbency sentiments powered by corruption claims against the previous BJP State government, is now facing an unorthodox challenge as pressure is growing against it to investigate the graft allegations.

Prime among the allegations is the claim made by Karnataka ‘Contractors Association (KSCA) president Kempanna, who had infamously stated that a cumulative 40 per cent commission was being charged by ministers and officials in public works.

Thereafter, “40 per cent sarkara” became an oft-repeated slogan by Congress, which was then the Opposition. Kempanna and his cohorts now hope that a probe would be conducted and the dues of contractors would be released.

Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had dared the Congress to probe the allegations followed by claims that there was “adjustment politics” between Congress and BJP. Others include the PSI recruitment scam.

The PSI exam had happened in October 2021 and results appeared on January 20, quickly followed by objections that cheating had taken place in several centres. The Bitcoin scam allegedly took place in late 2021 and early 2022.

The claim is that there was a nexus between politicians and policemen who forced notorious hacker Sriki to transfer the bitcoins he had stolen to their accounts. Information Technology and Bio-Technology Minister Priyank Kharge has promised a probe but is still mooting as to who would be the competent authority to investigate the scam because it would require the expertise of cyber security personnel.

Home Minister G Parameshwara had also promised to look into the alleged scam. Other Cabinet ministers have also probes into the various BJP era “scams”.

Other allegations include irregularities during disbursal of services and relief during the Covid pandemic and the molasses scam which allegedly cost the state exchequer Rs60 crore because the goods were extracted from Karnataka and exported through a port in Goa.

The claim that the NGO Chilume had illegally collected and sold voter data also awaits investigation.