Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 29: Leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Jagadish Shettar, who has claimed that ministers, R V Deshpande and Baburao Chinchansur have committed irregularities in respect of allotment of contract of the road within Gurumathkal constituency and basic infrastructure construction works, has sought their scalps.

Speaking to media persons at his office in Vidhan Soudha here on Saturday May 28, Shettar released audio recording of alleged cellphone conversations between minister, Baburao Chinchansur and managing director of KBR Constructions, Ajit. The conversation pertains to demand for bribe placed by the minister, and Ajit telling him that Deshpande too has been demanding for payment of 1.5 and that he will not settle for less. "He has been asking me why I need to pay so much here, duly informing me that I can manage by paying less to you. He has been threatening me with creating problems if I do not pay him 1.5. We cannot work without his support now. He is minister of the department concerned, whereas you are district in-charge minister. We want cooperation from both of you," the conversation goes on.

Shettar said that the minister who is directly placing demand for bribe is involved with irregularities. The ministers concerned should be shunted out of the state ministry, and an investigation by central bureau of investigation should be ordered," he urged.

Shettar further alleged that Chinchansur had committed irregularities in allotting contract on construction of brake water at Gangolli to block sea erosion. "By collecting bribe of two crore rupees, Chinchansur has favoured a company, Sripathi Associates, illegally. In 2015, six prestigious companies had submitted bids for the contract worth Rs 10 crore. Bids of four of these companies were rejected on technical grounds. Later, during technical scrutiny by the government the bid of another company was rejected, leaving Sripathi Associates, a Chennai-based company, alone in the fray. Although the company's bid was 24.17 percent over and above the tender amount, the minister used his influence to see that this company bagged this contract" Shettar alleged.

Shettar said that an audio recording between Sundar Rajan of Sripathi Associates with the minister was on record. He questioned the chief minister how he could allow ministers to function in spite of proof of their involvement with wrongdoings having been on record.

MLAs, Arvind Bellad, Muniraju, Ashawathnarayan and others were present in the press conference.