The Congress, which came to power in Karnataka promising to tackle corruption and expose the previous BJP government’s alleged “40 percent commission” scams, is now facing a string of serious allegations against its own leaders. The Congress government, which investigated the BJP’s commission allegations, was found to be fake. On the other hand, contractors, party insiders, and the opposition have repeatedly accused Congress MLAs of engaging in illegal activities, corruption, and the misuse of power, thereby putting the ruling party in a politically vulnerable position.
Over the past few months, several high-profile cases involving Congress MLAs have come to light, drawing public scrutiny and media attention. The arrest of MLA Satish Sail in the illegal ore transportation case and the seizure of crores in cash and gold by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) marked one of the earliest shocks. Sail’s residence and offices in Belekeri were raided in August, and he was later arrested on September 9. “The Enforcement Directorate recovered large amounts of cash and valuables from Sail’s properties, pointing to a clear pattern of corruption,” a senior ED official told reporters. Sail was later released on bail, but the case remains under investigation.
Similarly, Congress MLA Veerendra Pappi from Chitradurga came under the ED’s scanner for alleged illegal money transfers linked to online gaming apps. On August 22, the ED raided his residence and offices, uncovering crores in cash and foreign currency. Pappi, who was absconding at the time, was subsequently arrested in Sikkim and remanded in judicial custody. Opposition leaders argue that the case highlights systemic corruption within the Congress.
The criminal allegations extend beyond financial impropriety. MLA Vinay Kulkarni of Dharwad district is the main accused in the murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda. Kulkarni, who had previously been jailed and released on bail, contested and won the 2023 assembly elections and was appointed chairman of the Water Supply and Drainage Board. However, the Supreme Court cancelled his bail in June 2025, and he was re-arrested, adding a criminal dimension to the ongoing scandal surrounding the party.
Meanwhile, electoral malpractices have also surfaced. The Karnataka High Court invalidated the election of KY Nanjegowda, Congress MLA from Malur constituency, citing irregularities in vote counting. The High Court, however, stayed the order for a month, allowing Nanjegowda to appeal to the Supreme Court. This incident comes at a time when the Congress is vocally campaigning against alleged “vote theft” at the national level, leaving the party open to accusations of hypocrisy.
The latest development, further intensifying political pressure on Congress, is the Lokayukta raid on Sringeri MLA T.D. Rajegowda. The case concerns disproportionate assets, including the purchase of a 266-acre plantation at Halasur near Balehonnur. According to his election affidavit, Rajegowda’s annual income is Rs. 38 lakh, raising questions about how he could afford property worth hundreds of crores. The case, filed on the complaint of a local BJP leader, was registered under the orders of the People’s Representatives Court, and Lokayukta officials have seized key documents from his residence and offices.
