A judicial inquiry into corruption allegations against the previous BJP government in Karnataka has found no conclusive proof to support claims that ministers and elected representatives demanded a 40% commission on contracts. However, the report, submitted by Justice Nagmohan Das on March 12, underscores the existence of widespread corruption in the state’s tendering process. The findings come as a mixed outcome for both the ruling Congress government and the opposition BJP, impacting ongoing political discourse in the state.
The Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) had accused the former BJP-led government of demanding a 40% commission on public works contracts, a claim that played a key role in Congress’s 2023 election campaign. However, the inquiry report states that KSCA failed to provide concrete evidence to support these allegations. It suggests that contractors may have refrained from testifying due to fear of repercussions, which could have weakened their claims. “The 40% commission allegations made by the contractors’ association may not be entirely true. The contractors’ association has failed to prove its claims,” the report notes.
Despite this, the report identifies significant instances of corruption in the allocation and execution of tenders. It highlights irregularities linked to two former BJP MLAs, G H Thippareddy and Roopali Naik. In a specific case, a contractor named Manjunath alleged that he paid nearly Rs 90 lakh in commissions to Thippareddy between 2019 and 2023, leading to project delays. The report states that no other substantial reason for these delays was evident, suggesting that corruption played a role. Similarly, another contractor, Madhava Babu, accused former MLA Roopali Naik of demanding bribes even for conducting ‘Bhoomi Pooja’ ceremonies before construction projects. He further alleged that tenders were granted to non-local contractors at inflated commission rates. The inquiry found prima facie evidence to support these claims and recommended a thorough investigation.
The findings present a challenge for the Congress government, which leveraged the ‘PayCM’ campaign against BJP’s alleged corruption to secure electoral victory. With the report unable to substantiate the 40% commission claim, it provides ammunition for the BJP to counter Congress’s accusations. However, the identification of corruption within the tendering system reinforces concerns over governance and transparency.
The report also highlights that corruption is not exclusive to a particular party, citing the deaths of contractors Santosh Patil and Sachin Panchal as alarming indicators of deep-rooted malpractices. Both individuals had reportedly mentioned corruption in their suicide notes, exposing the gravity of the issue. The inquiry urges citizens to take a proactive role in demanding transparency and accountability in governance.
While the absence of definitive proof for the 40% commission charge may offer relief to the BJP, the broader revelations of corruption ensure that the debate over ethical governance in Karnataka remains far from over.
