‘Paid Rs 15 lakh to dist in-charge minister’: Davanagere officer-contractor conversation goes viral
Davangere: An alleged audio interaction between City Corporation Manager Venkatesh and contractor Krishna, who fell into the trap of the Lokayukta on accusations of demanding Rs 7 lakh to give the excise tender, has reportedly gone viral.
Contractor Krishna has accused the Corporation Manager Venkatesh was caught on audio stating that ‘a payment of Rs 15 lakh has even been made to the district in-charge minister (Urban Development Minister Byrathi Basavaraj)’, it is learned.
Krishna, along with Sri Rama Sene leaders, addressed a joint press conference on Monday.
“In 2021, I obtained the contract for excise collection. I had requested the municipal commissioner to extend the period of the contract due to apparent loss. The Commissioner then notified me to contact Corporation Manager Venkatesh in this regard. To renew the contract, Venkatesh put forth a demand of Rs 7 lakh in bribes and received Rs 2 lakh in advance. On Sunday night, when he was receiving the additional Rs 3 lakh rupees, he fell into the Lokayukta’s trap”, Krishna revealed.
Demand to take action against municipal commissioner, minister:
Shri Rama Sene’s District President Manikanta has demanded action to be taken against the municipal commissioner for taking lakhs of rupees in bribe money to allocate the excise tender. “The High Court and the District Court have already registered cases concerning incidents of corruption that have occurred in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation and the district”, he informed.
“Concerning the renewal of the excise contract in the jurisdiction of the Davanagere City Municipal Corporation, the Corporation’s Commissioner had put forth a demand of Rs 7 lakh for six months’ contract renewal. Upon discussion, it was agreed that, first, an advance amount of Rs 2 lakh was to be given, and the remaining Rs 5 lakh would be paid after signing the renewal order. In the background of this agreement, when the person went to pay the money on Sunday night, the Lokayukta conducted a raid and arrested Venkatesh”, Manikanta added.
“The Lokayukta conducted the raid at Venkatesh’s room near the Ram and Co circle in the city when he was receiving Rs 3 lakh on Sunday night. He has been taken into judicial custody. Since corruption is underway at all levels of the City Corporation, the Lokayukta officials must take necessary action against this”, he requested.
“Apart from this, the Corporation’s employee Venkatesh, during his conversation with Krishna, had stated that he had recently paid an amount of Rs 15 lakh to the Davanagere District In-charge Minister Byrathi Basavaraj. Therefore the Lokayukta must also investigate the minister”, he demanded.
Concerning the audio recording of the conversation between Venkatesh and Krishna, he urged the Lokayukta police to undertake a comprehensive investigation and take appropriate action against those found guilty.
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Vote rigging charges against MLA DN Jeevaraj: HC grants interim stay on FIR
Bengaluru: Karnataka High Court has issued an interim stay on the FIR against Sringeri legislator DN Jeevaraj, who is accused of vote rigging.
A vacation bench consisting of Justice V Sreeshananda heard on Tuesday the BJP MLA’s plea urging the HC to quash the case against him.
After hearing the arguments, the judge granted an interim stay on the case against Jeevaraj.
The hearing of the case has been adjourned to Thursday, May 7.
