BENGALURU: The alleged delay in disbursing February salaries to thousands of police personnel in Karnataka has triggered a political controversy, with the opposition accusing the state government of financial mismanagement and administrative failure. The issue has drawn sharp criticism from BY Vijayendra, state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who claimed the development reflects the “economic bankruptcy” of the government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
According to reports, thousands of police personnel across several districts have not yet received their February salaries, pushing many families into financial distress. Salaries that are usually credited in the first week of every month have reportedly not been deposited even several days into March.
The situation is said to be particularly severe in the Hubballi–Dharwad Police Commissionerate limits and in districts such as Ballari, Vijayanagara, Kalaburagi and Shivamogga. Sources indicate that nearly 3,200 personnel under the Hubballi-Dharwad Commissionerate and district police jurisdiction alone are yet to receive their pay.
ದಾಖಲೆ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯ ಬಜೆಟ್ ಮಂಡಿಸಿರುವ, ಈ ಬಾರಿ 4.48 ಲಕ್ಷ ಕೋಟಿ ರೂ ಗಾತ್ರದ 'ಅತಿ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಬಜೆಟ್' ಮಂಡಿಸಿ, 'ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಆರ್ಥಿಕತೆ ಸದೃಢವಾಗಿದೆ' ಎನ್ನುವ ಮರೀಚಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಹರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸನ್ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಶ್ರೀ @siddaramaiah ಅವರೇ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಬಜೆಟ್ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀವು ಬರೆದುಕೊಂಡ ಅಂಕಿ-ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಗಳ ಆಚೆಗೆ, ವಾಸ್ತವ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ… pic.twitter.com/3W4o9ioMhX
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) March 11, 2026
Police personnel, who work long hours maintaining law and order, are now reportedly struggling to manage routine expenses such as house rent, loan instalments and school fees for their children. Many families dependent on these salaries are said to be facing mounting financial pressure.
Opposition leaders have seized upon the issue to question the credibility of the state government’s recent budget claims. In a strongly worded social media post, BJP state chief BY Vijayendra criticised the government for presenting what he described as an “unrealistic and exaggerated” budget while allegedly failing to pay salaries to its own law enforcement personnel.
Referring to the recently presented state budget of Rs 4.48 lakh crore, Vijayendra said the government had projected an image of strong finances on paper, while the ground reality painted a different picture. “If the government cannot even release salaries for the police who safeguard law and order in the state, what does it say about the credibility of the budget figures?” he questioned.
He further alleged that while the government spends heavily on publicity and announcements, it has failed to ensure timely payment for those working on the frontlines of public safety. According to him, the delay in salaries is not merely a technical issue but a sign of deeper financial instability.
“The government claims the state economy is strong and boasts about record budget allocations. But the reality is that thousands of police personnel are struggling without their salaries,” Vijayendra said, accusing the administration of misleading the public through what he called “paper statistics”.
The BJP leader demanded that the government immediately release the pending salaries and ensure such delays do not recur. He also argued that the welfare and dignity of government employees, especially police personnel who work day and night to maintain order, should be prioritised over political claims and announcements.
Meanwhile, the delay has reportedly caused anxiety within police families across several districts. Many personnel are said to be worried about meeting their financial commitments, including housing rents, bank loan repayments and educational expenses.
