BJP MLA Sunil Kumar demands forensic test of Karnataka CM's signature amid fake-note row
Bengaluru (PTI): A day after police registered a case over a fake note purportedly issued from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in Karnataka, BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar escalated his attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday, demanding a forensic probe into the document and questioning the CMO's functioning.
Police registered the case against an unidentified person on Friday, following a complaint from the CMO over the circulation on social media of the fake note, which falsely claimed that a district health and family welfare officer in Mandya was posted as the deputy commissioner of excise in Mysuru.
The case was lodged at the Vidhana Soudha police station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) provisions relating to forgery and the use of forged documents.
The CMO has alleged that the act was carried out with malicious intent to bring disrepute to the chief minister and the Congress government in the southern state.
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"If the letter bearing the Chief Minister's signature itself is fake, should we not reflect on how the Chief Minister's Office is functioning?" Kumar asked in a post on X a day after the case was filed.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Karkala said the controversy raises serious questions on administrative oversight.
"This clearly shows that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is now focussed only on the chair and not on the functioning of his office," he alleged.
Demanding a forensic examination, Kumar said, "If this letter is fake, then the authenticity of the signature on it must also be established. Therefore, the signature should be subjected to examination by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to determine whether it is genuine or forged. It would not be surprising if this turns out to be a major 'letterhead' scam operating within the Chief Minister's Office."
He further questioned the circumstances under which the document surfaced.
"Why did the Chief Minister sign a letter without a date? Who were the persons who got the letter signed? What benefit did they derive from it? All these aspects should come out through an investigation. Otherwise, the investigation ordered by Siddaramaiah would appear to be a 'kill the messenger' tactic," he said.
Stating that he had cited the letter believing it to be genuine, Kumar said, "Like Siddaramaiah, I too am a person in public life -- a responsible MLA in the Opposition. Believing the letter I received to be genuine, I cited it as an example of administrative lapses in the government."
He also said that those claiming the letter to be fake have a responsibility to seek a thorough probe.
"Those who argue that the letter is fake also bear some responsibility, because it carries the signature of the Chief Minister of the state. Before declaring the letter itself as fake, there should also be an investigation into the alleged 'letterhead' scam," Kumar added.
In his response to the development, Siddaramaiah on Friday described the creation and circulation of the fake note as a condemnable and very serious crime, and urged social-media users to verify information before sharing it, warning that spreading unverified content in the era of Photoshop or artificial intelligence (AI) could also amount to a crime.
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Min. Priyank Kharge to expresses concern over implementation of VB-G Ram G
Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the proposed VB-G Ram G scheme, stating that the MNREGA programme, which has been a lifeline for rural India for nearly two decades, appears to be facing an uncertain future.
Speaking to media, Kharge said that as March 31 draws to a close, there is no clarity on the rollout of the new scheme from April 1. He pointed out that the central government has not yet issued the necessary guidelines for implementing the scheme for rural workers and villages.
He criticised the Centre for its lack of preparedness, stating that there is no clarity on fund allocation, no final parameters for classifying gram panchayats, and key processes such as social audits have not been defined.
Kharge said the situation comes at a critical time, as summer marks a peak period for rural employment demand, when many people depend heavily on wage employment for their livelihood.
He added that reports have emerged of delays in approvals and families not receiving work despite demand.
He further alleged that the Centre’s move to shift from a statutory employment guarantee to a rule-based allocation system is already showing negative consequences.
Kharge also raised concerns over provisions such as a mandatory 60-day halt during agricultural seasons, which he said would further limit employment opportunities for rural workers.
The BJP-led central government had claimed that the new scheme would transform rural India, but in reality it is turning out to be detrimental to people’s livelihoods, he said.
“The crisis in rural India due to the stalling of MNREGA is beginning to unfold. Given the Centre’s past record in handling such situations, there is growing concern over the impact on rural livelihoods,” Kharge said.
