The Congress government in Karnataka has come under renewed fire as serious allegations of blatant irregularities in the multi-crore smart meter project have brought Energy Minister K.J. George to the dock. The Special Court for the Trial of Criminal Cases against MLAs and MPs has directed the Lokayukta police to submit a factual report on the private complaint filed against George and senior BESCOM officials, marking yet another corruption flashpoint haunting the Siddaramaiah cabinet.
The complaint, filed by BJP MLA Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan and fellow legislators S.R. Vishwanath and Dheeraj Muniraju, alleges that the Energy Department under George’s leadership orchestrated a brazen violation of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, awarding the massive smart meter contract to a dubious shell company — Rajshri Electricals of Davangere — without conducting separate tenders for different electricity supply companies across Karnataka.
According to the petition, the tender process was deliberately manipulated to favour the chosen firm, ignoring mandatory competitive bidding norms under the KERC rules. The complainants argue that this move not only undermines fair competition but also opens the floodgates for inflated billing, directly burdening ordinary citizens who already struggle with rising costs.
‘Smart meters, backdoor loot’
Karunakar Kasale, BJP’s state media wing convener, slammed the George-led Energy Department for “looting the people in broad daylight.” Speaking to HT, Kasale highlighted how the smart meter charges in Karnataka have crossed Rs 10,000 per consumer — a shocking contrast to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, where consumers are paying under Rs 1,000 for similar services. “When neighbouring states manage to keep costs low, what justifies this astronomical charge here? It’s simple — corruption,” Kasale thundered, adding that under Congress rule, scams like the Valmiki scheme fiasco have become the norm, not the exception.
Kasale didn’t mince words in demanding George’s resignation on moral grounds. “This is an unforgivable betrayal of the public. Instead of easing citizens’ burdens, the Congress government is busy lining pockets, hiking petrol taxes, registration fees and even everyday utility charges. If George has any sense of moral responsibility, he should step down immediately.”
Political temperature rises
The BJP has seized the opportunity to brand the smart meter fiasco as the latest symbol of Congress’s ‘cash-for-everything’ governance. BJP leaders argue that while the government’s guarantee schemes are publicised with much fanfare, backdoor loot through manipulated tenders and inflated tariffs drains the very exchequer meant to fund welfare.
The Special Court’s move to direct the Lokayukta police to probe George, Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta, former BESCOM MD Mahantesh Bilagi and Technical Director H.J. Ramesh has given the opposition more ammunition to corner the Congress in the coming session of the Assembly.
Senior advocate Lakshmi Iyengar, arguing on behalf of the complainants, pointed out that the contract awarding process blatantly bypassed mandatory competitive checks and went against every principle of financial accountability expected of public institutions. “If allowed unchecked, this sets a dangerous precedent for open loot under the guise of essential infrastructure upgrades,” she said.
Mounting public outrage
What has particularly incensed the public is that consumers already battered by inflation and fuel hikes are now forced to foot exorbitant smart meter bills. At the same time, credible allegations suggest the money trail leads back to politically favoured middlemen and shell entities.
For the Congress government, which campaigned on guarantees and transparent governance, the smart meter scandal threatens to become yet another credibility crisis — one that could overshadow its welfare narrative.
The Lokayukta police now face the daunting task of investigating charges under sections 314, 316 and 61 of the IPC-2023 and sections 13(1)A and 13(1)B of the Prevention of Corruption Amendment Act, 2018. As the political battle lines harden, all eyes are on whether the Siddaramaiah government will defend George or distance itself in the name of ‘clean governance.’
With the next court hearing scheduled after the Lokayukta files its factual report, the smart meter scam may prove to be the biggest litmus test yet for Minister George — and for a Congress administration fighting hard to shield its pro-people image while allegations of corruption continue to pile up.
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