Karnataka govt orders judicial probe into '40 per cent commission scam'
Bengaluru, Aug 18: The Karnataka government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the allegations of demand for '40 per cent commission' for public projects during the previous BJP-led dispensation in the state.
Three months after coming to power, the ruling Congress on Thursday passed an order setting up the inquiry panel led by retired HC judge Justice Nagamohan Das, fulfilling one of its key promises made in the run-up to assembly polls.
According to the order, the commission will inquire into the activities of the departments where large-scale public works are taken up.
The Karnataka State Contractors' Association had written to the Prime Minister as well as the then CM about 40 per cent commission being charged on all public projects.
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Even before the commencement of work, 25 to 30 per cent commission is paid to the public representatives while the remaining is paid after completion of work, the order explained.
"However, no action was taken on these serious allegations at the government level. The new government wants to bring transparency in the administration at the initial level itself," it said.
The commission will investigate whether administrative approvals were given as per rules and quality of works.
The probe panel will also ascertain whether the estimates were in accordance with the prevailing schedule of rates and necessity to revise estimates in the event of cost escalation.
During the inquiry, the departments concerned will have to submit their files to the panel, it said.
During the election campaigning, the Congress raised the issue of '40 per cent commission' to target the BJP government.
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Actor Kishore Kumar appointed Ambassador for 16th Bangalore International Film Festival
Bengaluru, Jan 9: Actor Kishore Kumar G of 'Kantara' fame has been appointed as the ambassador for the 16th Bangalore International Film Festival (BIFFes) on Thursday.
The Karnataka government issued an order regarding this, according to an official communication from the office of the Chief Minister.
The 16th edition of the festival will be held in Bengaluru from March 1 to 8.
The press release further stated that actor Kishore Kumar, who has gained public recognition for his roles in Hindi and South Indian languages, has been appointed as the ambassador to promote the film festival."
The film festival is also internationally recognised by the Belgium-based Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films (FIAPF), said the release.
CM Siddaramaiah, who is also the chairman of the organising committee for the film festival, recently held a meeting and announced the festival dates.
16ನೇ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವದ ರಾಯಭಾರಿಯಾಗಿ ನೇಮಕಗೊಂಡಿರುವ ಖ್ಯಾತ ನಟ ಕಿಶೋರ್ ಕುಮಾರ್. ಜಿ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 9, 2025
"ಸರ್ವ ಜನಾಂಗದ ಶಾಂತಿಯ ತೋಟ" ಎಂಬ ಘೋಷವಾಕ್ಯದಡಿ ಈ ಬಾರಿಯ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವವನ್ನು ಆಯೋಜಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ಈ ಸಾಲುಗಳಿಗೆ ಬದ್ಧವಾಗಿರುವ ಕಿಶೋರ್ ಅವರ ಮುಂದಾಳತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವ… pic.twitter.com/XRr4heFq8l
