Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai (Left), Chief Minister DK Shivakumar (Right)
Bengaluru: A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after Puttur Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai accused officials in the Mangaluru division of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) of allegedly demanding a seven per cent commission from contractors executing government works.
Rai has written to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar seeking immediate intervention, a comprehensive inquiry and stringent disciplinary action against officials allegedly involved in the practice. The allegation has given the BJP fresh ammunition to attack the Congress government over corruption.
According to Rai’s complaint, officials associated with the KRIDL Mangaluru division allegedly demanded an additional seven per cent payment from contractors handling various development works under the corporation.
They allegedly sought the money in the name of the concerned department minister and the district in-charge minister.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Rai confirmed that he had written to the chief minister.
“Yes, I have written to the CM in this regard. Corrupt officials are bringing a bad name to the government through such practices. The government should take strict action against these officials and stop this,” Rai said.
Allegations of monthly payments
According to the complaint submitted to the chief minister, officials allegedly collected monthly payments from contractors in the names of the department and district ministers. Rai also alleged that engineers threatened contractors who questioned or opposed the demands.
The Congress MLA expressed concern over the alleged misuse of public funds and stressed the need for transparency and strict adherence to rules and quality standards in government-funded development works.
Rai said that if the allegations against the officials proved true, it would amount to serious misuse of public money, damage the department’s reputation, and undermine public confidence in the government system.
He has therefore urged the chief minister to order an immediate and detailed investigation and initiate strict disciplinary action against those found responsible.
The allegations have triggered a sharp response from Assembly Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, who accused the Congress government of failing to act despite the complaint coming from one of its own legislators.
Ashoka said the allegation was significant because it had not originated from the Opposition but from a Congress MLA who had directly approached the chief minister.
“Chief Minister Shivakumar, when the Opposition makes allegations, you dismiss them as ‘political’. But now your own Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai has exposed the alleged corruption in your government. What is your answer?” Ashoka asked.
He further said the Congress MLA had submitted a written complaint alleging that engineers in the Mangaluru KRIDL division were collecting seven per cent money or commission in the name of the district in-charge minister and the concerned department minister.
Ashoka accused the government of remaining silent over the allegations and questioned its moral authority to speak about corruption when a ruling party legislator himself had raised such serious concerns.
“If contractors executing government works are being threatened and monthly payments are being collected, what moral authority does this commission government have to speak about corruption?” Ashoka said.
He alleged that public money meant for development works could be affected if contractors were forced to pay commissions. According to him, such practices could also compromise the quality of government projects because contractors may attempt to recover alleged illegal payments by cutting costs elsewhere.
Ashoka demanded that KRIDL officials allegedly involved in the commission racket be suspended immediately and that criminal cases be registered against them if the allegations are established.
The Opposition leader also called for a high-level, impartial investigation into the alleged role of the ministers whose names were purportedly used to collect money from contractors.
“Since it has been alleged that money is being collected in the names of ministers, there should be a high-level, impartial investigation into the role of the concerned department minister and the Mangaluru district in-charge minister,” Ashoka said.
He maintained that the government should not limit the inquiry to lower-level officials if the investigation establishes that senior political figures were connected to the alleged collection.
