BENGALURU: With the State Government facing the ire of the opposition for hiking the quota for minorities in housing schemes from 10 to 15%, a leaked audio clip of a conversation on corruption in housing has created a political stir. The conversation is purportedly between Congress MLA and Deputy Chairman of Karnataka Planning Commission BR Patil and Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan’s personal secretary Sarfaraz Khan, about bribery for houses.
During the conversation, Aland MLA Patil made allegations that 950 houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Ltd were distributed after taking bribes, in his constituency. He warned that if information about the corruption was revealed, the government would be shaken. The Congress high command has reportedly sought information from CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, according to sources.
Siddaramaiah summoned Patil, who is said to have provided details on a list of houses sanctioned against bribes. Zameer, who was away in Mumbai, spoke to the CM over the phone, sources said. He reportedly told a TV channel that the housing department has no role in the allotment of houses, as local gram panchayats select beneficiaries in gram sabhas, adding that no new allotment of houses was being made by his department.
On AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge’s instructions, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala called up Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
The BJP has sought the resignation of Zameer, while LoP R Ashoka sought a judicial probe.
The audio tape was leaked a couple of days ago to the media. Patil had allegedly dialled Sarfaraz and raised the issue that his recommendations to allot houses were being ignored, whereas a Gram Panchayat president who had taken Patil’s recommendation letters managed to get houses allotted for beneficiaries by allegedly paying bribes.
Sarfaraz told Patil that nothing of that sort had happened in the allotment of houses and suggested that he provide information. “If you give information, I will take action immediately and send those guilty behind bars,” Khan told Patil.
Patil reportedly complained that of 950 houses under the scheme, 200 in Munnalli of Aland, 200 in Kavalaga, 200 in Madiyal, 100 in Darga Shiroor, and 200 in Dhangapura were allotted to the ineligible after taking bribes. This happened in neighbouring Afzalpur constituency too, he said.