Bengaluru: A fresh corruption storm has engulfed Congress-ruled Karnataka after the Lokayukta unearthed massive irregularities in the procurement of laptops, smart LED boards, projectors and UPS systems for Government Model Primary Schools and Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) in Bengaluru. The revelations, made after raids and a preliminary investigation, have revived criticism that corruption has penetrated deeply into the state administration under the Congress government.
According to Lokayukta Justice B.S. Patil, who personally supervised the inquiry, the Education Department’s procurement process was marked by blatant violations, inflated billing, missing equipment and manipulated tender specifications. The Lokayukta has now launched a full-scale investigation into senior officials, including the Joint Director, two Deputy Directors and 12 Field Education Officers.
The scandal, which strikes at the heart of the government’s flagship education programmes, has triggered outrage among parents, teachers and citizens who expected transparency and improvement in public schooling—not another episode of alleged Congress-era corruption.
Tender process rigged, equipment overpriced
The Lokayukta confirmed that tenders were floated in April 2025 for laptops, LED smart TVs, projectors, UPS inverters and batteries meant for hundreds of schools across Bengaluru. While the materials were indeed supplied, a detailed inspection revealed that the technical specifications mentioned in the tender documents did not match the actual equipment delivered—a classic sign of manipulated procurement.
Even more shocking was the scale of overpricing. The Lokayukta found:
• Laptops purchased at Rs 10,000 higher than the prevailing market rate
• UPS systems inflated by Rs 30,000– Rs 40,000 each
• LED Smart TVs overpriced by Rs 15,000 each
With 1,438 schools falling under just one Deputy Director’s jurisdiction, the financial loss to the exchequer could run into crores of rupees, raising serious questions about how such widespread fraud went unnoticed in a Congress-led system.
Laptops missing from schools—evidence of deeper rot
One of the most disturbing findings emerged at the Jalahalli KPS School, where the Lokayukta discovered that the laptops that were supposed to be supplied were missing entirely. When summoned, the school headmistress initially failed to produce the equipment. Hours later, through a video call, she showed only a UPS, LED TV and a projector, no laptops.
Even after repeated reminders, the laptops were not shown, hinting at possible theft, misappropriation or outright non-supply. The Lokayukta has warned that similar discrepancies are expected across multiple schools, pointing to a systematic fraud rather than isolated negligence.
Shocking procedural violations
The investigation also uncovered alarming lapses that indicate deep-rooted corruption:
• LED smart TVs supplied had lower internal storage than the tender specifications
• No warranty documents were provided, neither in the offices nor on the products
• Field Education Officers did not obtain mandatory confirmation letters from head teachers
• Officers never visited schools to verify deliveries, despite handling crores worth of equipment
Such procedural failures reflect a collapse of administrative accountability under the Congress government, where public funds meant for children’s education appear to have been siphoned off with impunity.
Congress under fire again for corruption allegations
Opposition leaders have slammed the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, accusing it of encouraging a “culture of plunder” in the Education Department. Critics argue that instead of strengthening schools, the government has allowed corrupt networks to flourish, leaving students without basic technology and taxpayers cheated.
The scandal comes at a time when Karnataka is already battling allegations of corruption in several departments, from recruitment scams to infrastructure delays. The Lokayukta’s revelations reinforce concerns that the state is slipping back into the era of unchecked misuse of public money.
Lokayukta promises full probe
Justice B.S. Patil stated that a detailed investigation is underway, and the full extent of wrongdoing will be known soon. Further raids, audits of other schools, and questioning of officials are expected in the coming days.
The people of Karnataka, especially parents and teachers, are now demanding that the Congress government take accountability, sack negligent officers, and cooperate fully with the Lokayukta.
The scandal has once again highlighted how corruption in the education system directly harms children—denying them access to essential learning tools while filling the pockets of officials and contractors.
If proven true, this case may become yet another major corruption blot on the Congress administration, raising questions about governance, transparency and the real cost paid by Karnataka’s students.
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