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The clip, reportedly between the Congress legislator and Sarfaraz Khan, the personal assistant to Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, has sparked controversy.
Karnataka Congress MLA BR Patil. (File)
A purported audio clip of the Deputy Chairman of Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission and Congress MLA BR Patil has surfaced in which he has accused the officials linked to the state’s Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation of large-scale corruption.
The clip, reportedly between the Congress legislator and Sarfaraz Khan, the personal assistant to Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, has sparked controversy.
In the audio clip, claimed that officials systematically demanded bribes for house allocations. He said that houses under the scheme were allotted only to those who paid bribes, and legitimate recommendations from elected officials like himself were ignored.
Patil expressed frustration that his official recommendations for house allotments were consistently bypassed in favor of selections made by Gram Panchayat presidents who allegedly made monetary payments to officials.
“Houses are being allotted only to those who have paid bribes. I am saddened to raise this complaint against my own government. A total of 950 houses across different villages have been allotted after taking money from the beneficiaries. My recommendation letters are being ignored. Instead, preference is given to the list submitted by the Gram Panchayat President,” MLA Patil is heard saying.
“Whoever has paid money, got houses, is this business?” said Patil.
He is heard questioning why the Housing Corporation gave preference to recommendations from those who “paid money” over those made by him.
“What respect will I have if this happens?” Patil asked in the audio clip.
Khan is heard denying these charges, saying the persons who have received the bribe will be sent to jail if the details are provided to him.
Patil then warned that if the list of beneficiaries is made public, the government would be “shaken.”
According to Patil’s claims in the audio, the corruption extended across multiple locations within his constituency. He alleges that bribes influenced the distribution of approximately 950 houses across various areas including Munnalli (200 houses), Hittala Shirur (100 houses), Dangapur (200 houses), and 200 houses each in Kavalaga and Madiyal.
This revelation adds to ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability in government welfare schemes, particularly those designed to provide housing assistance to economically disadvantaged citizens.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka BJP slammed the state government over the audio clip and said the Congress government stands for corruption.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka said, “Congress MLA and Chief Minister’s Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy had earlier stated that Karnataka ranks No. 1 in corruption under the Congress government. Now, strengthening that claim, Congress MLA BR Patil has levelled serious allegations against Housing Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan.”
“MLA BR Patil has alleged that in the Aland Assembly constituency, a total of 950 houses were allotted through bribery. He warned that if he revealed the corruption-related information he possesses, the very foundation of the government would be shaken,” Ashoka noted.
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
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