BJP Minister Eshwarappa denies corruption allegations, says ‘I am appalled’

Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday denied the allegations by a contractor that he demanded 40% commission and said that he has filed a defamation case against him.

Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa denied allegations by a contractor on Tuesday that he demanded a 40% commission and said that he has filed a defamation case against him.

KS Eeshwarappa denies allegations that he demanded 40% commission from a contractor.

"I am appalled at the reaction of Congress MPs over a baseless allegation made by Santosh K Patil claiming 40 per cent commission for a Rs. 4 crore work undertaken by him in Hindalga Belgaum District," he said in a press statement.

Eshwarappa said that Santosh Patil himself has said he has not received any official order from the department. "Trusting his unfounded allegation about the amount paid by him is unfortunate. A member of Parliament reacts to it with not even a shred of evidence to justify the same," he added.

The Karnataka Minister said that the Congress which has vast experience in governance is aware of the procedure followed to undertake the work.

Eshwarappa said that the Additional Chief Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj has issued a clarification stating that no work order is issued as the work has not been sanctioned and the question of making payment for the alleged work doesn't arise.

"The desperation of the Congress party to make wild allegations over fabricated and motivated charges is clearly exposed. It is to my utter dismay that Congress party is in its zeal to accuse BJP government in Karnataka and is resting on a motivated charge by a person who himself has confessed to having indulged in questionable activities," he added.

He further said that he had filed a defamation case against Santosh K Patil over his attempt to defame him. "I have also attested to the clarification letter issued by the Principal Secretary to this effect which is self-explanatory and dispels all the baseless allegations made. I hope good sense will prevail upon Congress leaders and would focus more on energising their party which is in a moribund state," he said.

Patil had written a letter to the Union Minister alleging that Eshwarappa was demanding a commission for releasing his payment of Rs. 4 crores for completed road work even after a year of completion of the work.

To this allegation, AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewal said on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should sack Karnataka's government.

“The 40 per cent BJP government’ led by Basavaraj Bommai is corrupt and does not have the right to continue in power even for a single day. I heard that both Shah and Modi are coming to Karnataka. They should remove corrupt ministers and government. Otherwise, it proves that the 40 per cent commission reaches up to New Delhi and Nagpur,” he had said.

(With Inputs from ANI)