An audio clip has surfaced apparently portraying Karnataka Congress MLA from Aland, BR Patil, accusing officials associated to the state’s Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation of widespread corruption.
In the audio, Patil, who is also the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, states that houses under the scheme were only given to people who paid bribes, while recommendation letters from elected representatives such as himself were ignored.
Audio clip sparks controversy
The audio tape, reportedly between BR Patil and Sarfaraz Khan, the personal assistant to Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, has aroused outrage.
Patil may be heard expressing his displeasure that his recommendations for housing allotments were overruled in favour of those made by Gram Panchayat presidents who reportedly paid bribes. “Whoever has paid money, got houses, is this business?” says Patil.
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He is heard asking why the Housing Corporation preferred recommendations from those who “paid money” over those made by him.
Khan is heard refuting these claims, claiming that if the individuals who took the bribe are identified, they would be imprisoned.
Patil then stated that if the list of recipients is made public, the government will be “shaken.”
Patil additionally claims that kickbacks were received in the allocation of 950 homes in his Aland constituency, comprising 200 homes in Munnalli, 100 in Hittala Shirur, 200 in Dangapur, and 200 each in Kavalaga and Madiyal.
