Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, April 9: Senior BJP leader and social activist N R Ramesh has filed a formal complaint against two Congress ministers in the Karnataka government, accusing them of misusing over Rs 17,000 crore under the Centre’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.
Ramesh, in a press conference, revealed that the complaint had been lodged against State Urban Development Minister Bhyrati Suresh, Municipal Administration Minister Rahim Khan, and Congress MLA and chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWS & DB), Vinay Kulkarni. He confirmed that he had filed complaints with both the Karnataka Lokayukta and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
"I have filed complaints against Ministers Bhyrati Suresh, Rahim Khan, and Vinay Kulkarni with both the Lokayukta and the Enforcement Directorate," Ramesh said. The BJP leader also named key officials, including the Chief Engineers of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply (KUWS) and Drainage Board (DB), V. L. Chandrappa and T. N. Muddurajanna, as well as the Director of the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), Prabhuling Kavalikatti, IAS.
The AMRUT scheme, a central government initiative aimed at enhancing urban infrastructure in cities outside major metros, seeks to improve drinking water supply, sewage management, underground drainage, storm water drains, parks, and transport facilities. For the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25, the Centre released Rs 16,989.66 crore for AMRUT projects in Karnataka. Of this, 75% was allocated to KUWS & DB and 25% to DMA.
However, Ramesh alleged that over 50% of the released funds had been misused under the leadership of the accused ministers and officials. "It has emerged that over 50% of the Rs 16,989.66 crore funds released in the past two years have been misused by corrupt officials in both KUWS & DB and DMA, under the leadership of Urban Development Minister Bhyrati Suresh, KUWS & DB Chairman Vinay Kulkarni, and Municipal Administration Minister Rahim Khan," Ramesh charged.
The BJP leader accused the officials of withdrawing funds without executing the listed projects, using false completion certificates for works not completed, and facilitating embezzlement through pre-selected contractors. He also claimed that less than 50% of the works listed in official project estimates were visible on the ground following independent inspections of 27 city corporations and municipalities in Karnataka.
Ramesh further alleged that the ministers received commissions on tenders, with Bhyrati Suresh and Rahim Khan receiving a 15% commission, while Vinay Kulkarni took a 3% cut. According to Ramesh, more than 50% of the AMRUT funds were looted in the form of commissions by senior officials in KUWS & DB and DMA, including Chief Engineers, Executive Engineers, Assistant Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers, Commissioners of Urban Local Bodies, and Chief Executive Officers of Town Municipalities.
In his complaint, Ramesh also appealed to the Governor of Karnataka to grant permission for the prosecution of the ministers and officials named in the case. "I have lodged the complaint with the Governor's office, requesting that prosecution permission be granted for investigating these cases," Ramesh said.
He further appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, to initiate a CBI inquiry into the alleged misuse of AMRUT funds. "I also demand a high-level judicial inquiry into the scam from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah," Ramesh concluded.
The complaint has added significant pressure on the Siddaramaiah-led government, which is already facing several allegations of corruption. The political and legal repercussions of these allegations are expected to unfold in the coming weeks.