Kumaraswamy accuses officials of corruption, cites WhatsApp chats

Bengaluru: Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has accused officials in Hassan district and Minister Shivalingegowda of involvement in alleged bribery, presenting excerpts from purported WhatsApp conversations of Deputy Commissioner’s personal assistant Shashikiran.

The Union Minister claimed that the messages exposed demands for money in connection with the clearance of three files relating to stone crushers. Reading out the alleged exchanges, he said the conversations indicated that payments were being collected and distributed among officials and staff.

One of the messages reportedly referred to payments made over three years and questioned why additional money was being sought. In response, the other party allegedly said that the amount collected had to be handed over to the DC, while a smaller share would be distributed among employees in the section.

Kumaraswamy further claimed that the messages mentioned an alleged Rs 15 lakh payment for a particular task in April. He also referred to a demand for Rs 60 lakh to settle the three files, followed by an alleged agreement involving Rs 75 lakh.

According to the Union Minister’s reading of the chat, the Deputy Commissioner was said to have discussed the matter with the Arsikere tahsildar, Santosh, after which the amount was allegedly arranged and paid. The messages also reportedly referred to Minister Shivalingegowda’s assurance that he could get the DC transferred.

Kumaraswamy said an unidentified person had given him the documents. He alleged that similar practices were taking place across districts and sought an inquiry into the authenticity and contents of the messages.

He questioned whether state police chief M.A. Saleem would investigate the alleged transactions, identify the intermediaries and trace the recipients of the money. He also challenged the government to explain what action would be taken.

Referring to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy asked whether the government would take measures to prevent such alleged corruption. He said he was placing the material before the public because he was tired of repeatedly raising concerns about the functioning of the administration.

The allegations remain unverified, and no response from the officials named in the claims was included in the material provided.

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