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Four senior leaders of the ruling Congress in Karnataka have raised their voices on issues of corruption, fund crunch, and lack of development
Zameer, seen as close to chief minister Siddaramaiah, dismissed the charges as baseless. (File pic: X)
Under fire over allegations of corruption in residence allotments, Karnataka housing minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has said that if any wrongdoing linked to him is proven, he will resign on his own.
Zameer, seen as close to chief minister Siddaramaiah, dismissed the charges as baseless but said, “If it’s proven during the investigation that I have taken money to distribute houses to the poor, I will resign voluntarily. No one needs to ask me to go.”
Calling BR Patil a senior and respected leader in the party, Zameer said Patil had not taken any names. “He hasn’t named me or any officer. I will speak to BR Patil and ask who took the bribe. I will act against them,” he said. “Let BR Patil or Raju Kage reveal the name of who asked for money or took money. Action will follow.”
Zameer said he has already informed the chief minister and has called a meeting of officials. “I was out on a trip and couldn’t respond earlier. Now I’ve got the details,” he said, adding that he has also ordered a departmental probe.
He made it clear that he would cooperate fully with any probe. “I stand by my statement. Whatever BR Patil has said must be investigated. I am even ready for a CBI inquiry.”
The strongest attack has come from BR Patil, who has alleged a housing scam in the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation. In a leaked audio clip, Patil is heard accusing officials of demanding bribes to allot houses. He claimed that his own recommendations were ignored in favour of those who paid money. He even warned that if the list of beneficiaries was made public, the revelations could “shake the government.”
Dismissing the demand for his resignation by MLC Belur Gopalakrishna, Zameer said the leader had no idea of the ground reality. “House allotment is done at the gram panchayat level based on MLA recommendations. In Aland, the 950 houses allotted were based on BR Patil’s letter.”
Zameer said that in Siddaramaiah’s previous tenure between 2013 and 2018, 14,058 houses were allotted. “Back then, we gave Rs 1 lakh per house. I’ve asked that it be raised to Rs 3 lakh per beneficiary. We’re allotting houses to MLAs across parties—Ramnagara got 3,000. BR Patil has asked for 2,000, and we’ve allotted over 900. All without taking a single rupee.”
“From the government, they get Rs 1 lakh 20,000 to build a house. In that, if, as alleged, Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 is taken from the poor, it is completely wrong,” he said.
Zameer denied any role in corrupt dealings. “I have not taken even a rupee. Let anyone prove otherwise. I’m not the kind of person who takes money from the poor. If someone else has taken money, they will face the consequences. “
Zameer said he had not yet spoken to BR Patil but insisted the senior MLA had not targeted him personally. “He hasn’t said anything against me or the department. He raised questions, and that’s his right. Once the investigation is over, action will be taken against whoever is guilty.”
On the BJP attacking him, he said that they are doing their job as the opposition and playing politics.
“I am not sitting in power because I am greedy. In 2007, when Kumaraswamy did not attend a programme of mine, I resigned from the JD(S). I am that kind of person. For everything, one need not resign. If it is proven that I am involved in this, nobody needs to tell me. I will step down on my own,” he said.
On Kage’s allegations that there is no money for development, Zameer said that last year, in 2024, Rs 25 crore was given to MLAs for the development of their constituencies. “In 2025, it has been decided to give Rs 50 crore to every MLA,” the minister said.
On the question of lack of funds, Zameer played down the statements made by home minister G Parameshwara, Kage, and others that there are no funds for development.
“Who said there are no funds? I have visited five to six districts with the CM. Rs 400-500 crore worth of Bhoomi Pooja is taking place. After Siddaramaiah became CM, my constituency alone has received Rs 400 crore,” he said.
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t…Read More
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t… Read More
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