‘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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PDP leader Iltija Mufti lodges police complaint against Nitish Kumar for pulling woman's 'naqab'
Srinagar (PTI): PDP leader Iltija Mufti on Friday lodged a police complaint seeking the registration of an FIR against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for recently pulling off the veil from a woman doctor’s face.
However, there was no word from the police on whether an FIR has been registered against the JD-U chief.
“I’m writing to bring to your attention a vile incident which has caused immense distress and hurt among Muslims, especially women. A few days ago, we watched with shock, horror and worry as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulled down the ‘naqab’ of a young Muslim doctor in full public glare at a government function,” Mufti said in her complaint to the Kothibagh SHO.
She added that what made “matters worse was the unsettling reaction of the people around, including the deputy chief minister, who chuckled and watched with glee”.
“The forceful stripping of her ‘naqab’ wasn’t just a brutal assault on a Muslim lady but on the autonomy, identity and dignity of every Indian woman,” Mufti alleged.
ALSO READ: Doctor whose naqab was removed by Nitish Kumar will join duty in Bihar: Official
The incident, a video clip of which has been circulated widely, sparking a major political row, took place on Monday at the chief minister’s secretariat in Patna where Ayush doctors gathered to receive their letters of appointment.
When the woman came up for her letter, Kumar saw her 'naqab', said “what is this” and then removed the veil, prompting the opposition parties to demand an unconditional apology from the chief minister.
Mufti said it was more concerning that the incident took place amid the “deliberate othering and political and economic disempowerment of Muslims all across India”.
The complaint said in the days following the "shameful" incident, “we have witnessed with abject horror videos of miscreants pulling off the naqabs of Muslim women across India”.
“Perhaps a chief minister engaging in this vulgar act of indecency has now emboldened such lumpen elements, giving them carte blanche (complete freedom) to humiliate and attack Muslim women,” the PDP leader alleged in her complaint.
Mufti also said that as a young Muslim woman, she is “deeply worried” that so far, no concrete action has been taken in the matter to serve both as a deterrent and precedent.
“BJP ministers and the men in power are justifying Kumar's indecency. Au contraire (on the contrary), they are condoning and celebrating it. I am sure you will agree that the rule of law must be applied uniformly and unequivocally to every Indian citizen.
“Being a chief minister doesn't exonerate an individual just because he enjoys political power and patronage,” Mufti said, and urged police to immediately file an FIR against Kumar.
“We owe it to every Indian woman to protect her dignity. The choice to wear what she wants without fear, with her head held high,” she added.
Speaking to reporters, Mufti said rather than apologising for what the Bihar chief minister did, the BJP ministers are “giving vulgar statements”.
“Yesterday, Griraj Singh, a Union minister, said Muslims in India should go to hell. If you touch the veil of our women, please be ready for the consequences.
“There was a need to file an FIR as, instead of being apologetic, the BJP wants to justify what he did, which is extremely wrong and criminal,” she said.
The PDP leader also said it is up to the police now, “but we have to do our bit”.
Lashing out at J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mufti said it is "most troubling" that Abdullah, who is the only Muslim chief minister in India, did not issue a statement against Kumar’s act for two days, and when he did, he justified Kumar's “indecent act”.
“Despite being a Muslim chief minister, he does not want to protect Muslim girls and women. So, I felt it was my duty as a young Muslim woman to come here today, express solidarity with this doctor, and also to make sure that the dignity and identity of not just Muslim women, but all women across India, are protected. We have the right to choose what we want to wear with our head held high,” Mufti said.
PDP's Iltija Mufti lodges police complaint against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar over 'hijab' incident
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) December 19, 2025
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