Karnataka To Type SIT To Probe ‘40% Fee’ Cost Below BJP Regardless of Panel’s ‘No Proof’ Declare – News18
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Whereas the Justice Nagamohan Das Fee discovered no conclusive proof to again the Karnataka State Contractors’ Affiliation’s declare that officers and ministers within the BJP regime have been demanding a set 40 per cent fee, it flagged rampant corruption
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah receives the report of the committee headed by retired Justice Nagamohan Das. (PTI)
The Karnataka cupboard has determined to type a Particular Investigation Group (SIT) to probe the allegations of 40 per cent fee in public works contracts throughout the BJP authorities led by Basavaraj Bommai.
Regulation minister HK Patil, whereas asserting the choice after the cupboard assembly, stated: “The SIT won’t simply be a police group. It’s going to embrace technical specialists. It has been tasked with investigating the irregularities flagged within the Justice Nagamohan Das Fee report. It has been given two months to finish the inquiry.”
The transfer comes days after the fee submitted its 20,000-page report back to chief minister Siddaramaiah. The panel examined 1,729 information throughout 5 key departments—public works, irrigation, city improvement, rural improvement and panchayat raj, and minor irrigation—throughout 31 districts. It investigated almost three lakh authorities tasks executed between July 2019 and March 2023.
Whereas the panel discovered no conclusive proof to again the Karnataka State Contractors’ Affiliation’s declare that officers and ministers within the BJP regime have been demanding a set 40 per cent fee, it flagged rampant corruption.
“The fee report factors out irregularities in planning, fund launch, and issuance of LOCs. It additionally says intermediaries have been concerned within the tender allocation course of. Contemplating the seriousness of those findings, the cupboard has determined to arrange an SIT,” Patil stated.
Requested about Justice Nagamohan Das’ remark that the 40 per cent cost couldn’t be substantiated, Patil replied, “I’m not involved with that assertion. The departments by which irregularities have been discovered have been clearly talked about within the report. Justice Nagamohan Das has investigated the place corruption occurred. There are very particular circumstances talked about within the report. He has talked about department-wise what they discovered of their investigation.”
The panel’s report was based mostly on a grievance by the Karnataka State Contractors’ Affiliation, which had accused politicians and officers below the BJP regime of demanding commissions for clearing payments.
The affiliation’s allegations grew to become a significant ballot plank of the Congress marketing campaign within the 2023 meeting elections and helped ship the social gathering a landslide victory, whereas the BJP was diminished to simply 66 seats.
In the meantime, the affiliation turned the highlight on the Congress authorities, alleging the identical corrupt practices have continued. The outfit’s president D Manjunath claimed that they’ve additionally flagged to the chief minister and deputy chief minister that “in comparison with the earlier authorities, the current one is demanding a better share”.
The cupboard, it’s learnt, has additionally stated it might be contemplating submitting FIRs in opposition to former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and former well being minister B Sriramulu based mostly on the Justice Michael D’Cunha Fee’s interim report on irregularities in Covid-related procurement. The D’Cunha report, submitted in November 2024, had really useful motion in opposition to each leaders.
