K'taka CM denies knowledge of 'link' between Fazil compensation and Suhas Shetty's murder
Haveri (Karnataka), May 4 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said he was unaware of reports suggesting that compensation given to Mohammed Fazil’s family was allegedly used to hire contract killers involved in the murder of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty.
The Chief Minister said he would discuss the matter with Home Minister Parameshwara and district in charge Minister of Dakshina Kannada Dinesh Gundu Rao to get more information.
In 2022, Fazil was murdered in Surathkal by a gang of masked men. History sheeter Suhas Shetty is the prime accused in the murder case.
Addressing reporters here, Siddaramaiah said, “I have to look into it. I don’t have any information. Yesterday Dinesh Gundu Rao and Home Minister (G Parameshwara) had been there. I haven’t spoken to them yet. I will say after talking to them.”
He was replying to a query on police investigation revealing that Rs five lakh out of Rs 25 lakh compensation paid to Fazil’s family by the state government after his murder in 2022, was allegedly paid to the contract killers to eliminate Suhas Shetty.
On Friday, Suhas Shetty was hacked to death. Eight people, including Fazil's brother, have been arrested in this connection.
Asked about the formation of a task force to tackle communal issues, the CM said Parameshwara has said that a police wing was required to identify and subdue anti-social elements.
“I will speak to the Home Minister about it (task force) and then I will let you know,” he added.
Regarding the Centre’s decision to conduct caste census, he said the BJP leaders have been criticising him for conducting the caste census alleging that he was pitching castes against each other.
“Now what are they saying? Today they are wholeheartedly welcoming it (caste census). It’s apparent that they were opposing it for political reasons and not on facts.
To a query about JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda’s allegation that the Congress was adopting "double standards" with regard to the Pahalgam terror attack, Siddaramaiah sought to know what had Gowda said against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre before joining the BJP and what is he saying now.
“Who is adopting double standard? It’s Deve Gowda only,” he alleged.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
