Contractors' association makes fresh charge; Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, mantri hit back

BENGALURU: The 40% commission charge has returned to haunt the BJP government in Karnataka, with the state civil contractors' association on Wednesday making fresh allegations against a minister and seeking a judicial probe into the allegations.
Association president D Kempanna accused horticulture minister and Kolar district in-charge N Munirathna, without naming him, of collecting commission from contractors through officers.
Trashing the allegations, Munirathna threatened to file a defamation case if Kempanna failed to prove the charges with evidence. "He has to prove the allegations with documentary evidence. Or else, I'll take him to court," the minister said, adding false allegations are being made to defame the state government.
CM Basavaraj Bommai said there was no meaning in Kempanna's allegations as they came after he met Congress leader Siddaramaiah.
After the association flagged the issue some time ago, the CM said the government constituted a tender-scrutiny committee headed by a retired judge, which no other state has done.
Contractors' assn seeks judicial probe
If they have any specific complaint, they can go to the Lokayukta, who has full freedom and will investigate the charges and award strict punishment to the guilty, if any," he added.
Earlier, Kempanna alleged: "The Kolar district minister (without taking his name) has been pressurising officers to collect money from contractors on his behalf. He is threatening to inspect their work and suspend officials if they didn't collect money. He (Munirathna), a contractor himself, has indulged in such things."
He made the allegations shortly after he led a delegation of contractors to meet former Congress CM Siddaramaiah to urge him to take up the issue in the legislative session in September.
Demanding a judicial probe into the allegations against ministers, MLAs and officers demanding 40% kickback to award public works, he said, "We are ready to prove our allegations before the judicial commission. If we fail to do so, let them (the government) jail us."
Stating he would raise the issue in the assembly session, Siddaramaiah said the government must accept Kempanna's challenge and order a probe into the issue. "The government has so far not agreed to any kind of probe. It is as good as accepting the 40% commission allegation," he said. In a letter sent to the Prime Minister in July 2021, the association had claimed harassment by ministers, elected representatives and others, and accused them of demanding up to 30% of the tender amount for approving a contract and 5% to 6% for release of a 'letter of credit' against pending bills.