Bengaluru: The Congress government in Karnataka has been hit by a fresh corruption controversy after BJP leader and lawyer Devaraj Gowda filed a formal complaint with Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, seeking prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The allegations stem from a viral audio clip purportedly of Arasikere MLA KM Shivalingegowda discussing large-scale cash distribution to voters during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Hassan.
The explosive clip, which surfaced four months after polling, allegedly captures Shivalingegowda detailing a meeting in which Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, and Rajya Sabha member N. Chandrashekhar decided to allocate crores of rupees to secure the victory of Congress candidate Shreyas M. Patel from the Hassan constituency.
In his complaint, Devaraj Gowda has requested the Governor’s sanction to initiate criminal proceedings under Sections 123 and 77 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He alleges that the top leadership of the ruling party not only endorsed but actively orchestrated the illicit payouts.
Details of the alleged cash plan
According to the complaint, Shivalingegowda purportedly explained in the audio that Rs 500 would be given to each voter in the district in favor of Shreyas Patel. The recording allegedly lays out a financial breakdown: ₹5 crore from Patel himself, Rs 1 crore from former MLC Gopalaswamy, and Rs 1 crore from senior Congress leader B. Shivaramu — totaling Rs 7 crore for Belur Assembly constituency alone.
The instructions, as claimed in the viral clip, were explicit: target 68–70 per cent of voters known to support Congress, avoid spending on those unlikely to vote for the party, and complete disbursement on the same night if possible. The audio allegedly even references instances of Rs 1,000 being given per household by other Congress leaders, urging parity in payouts to avoid dissatisfaction among voters.
A separate portion of the complaint points to another leaked audio file in which Shivalingegowda allegedly mentions Rs 1.5 crore being spent on campaign activities in Belur. The voice in the recordings, according to Devaraj Gowda, has been “clearly proven” to be that of the MLA.
Political intrigue and infighting exposed
Beyond the vote-buying allegations, the audio purportedly captures Shivalingegowda making sharp criticisms of senior party leaders, including B. Shivaram, accusing them of ineffective campaigning in Belur. He allegedly complains about “rowdies” being involved in local politics and hints at discontent over candidate selection and campaign strategy.
The conversation also touches on the infamous “pen drive case” and an obscene video scandal that rocked Hassan politics earlier this year. Shivalingegowda allegedly remarks that such controversies should be politically exploited, even suggesting that JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda should have campaigned despite his age.
There is also commentary on opposition inactivity — with the MLA purportedly lamenting that BJP leaders and Belur MLA Suresh were not working effectively during the campaign.
BJP alleges bribery
BJP leaders accusing the Congress of undermining democracy through blatant bribery. “This is not just a case of malpractice, it is a calculated conspiracy involving the Chief Minister and his deputy to subvert the will of the people,” Devaraj Gowda told reporters outside Raj Bhavan after submitting his complaint.
Party insiders say the issue will be pushed aggressively in the monsoon session of the Karnataka Assembly, with demands for Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to resign pending investigation. The BJP is also expected to take the matter to the Election Commission, seeking a probe into whether the Hassan result should be annulled.
As of Tuesday evening, neither Siddaramaiah nor Shivakumar had issued a detailed public response. Congress sources privately dismissed the allegations as a “political stunt” timed to divert attention from governance issues and corruption charges against BJP leaders. However, the absence of an immediate and forceful denial from the party’s top brass is likely to fuel speculation and keep the controversy alive in media cycles.
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