From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Dec 16: Keeping up the pressure on the alleged scam in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Opposition Congress party reiterated its demand for a CBI probe into the Rs 1539 core bogus bill scam in the three BBMP wards – Gandhingar, Malleswaram and Rajarajeshwarinagar – as per the inquiry ordered by former BBMP Commissiner Siddaiah.

Congress Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, who raised the issue in the Assembly on Friday, the records were burnt in the BBMP office after the inquiry report was made public and said the persons involved in the multi-crore bogus bill scam were making systematic attempts to destroy evidence and protect the leaders involved in the scam.

If Government conducts niquiry in all the BBMP wards, Siddaramaiah said the size of the scam may cross Rs 10,000 crore and contended that the sudden transfer of Siddaiah was part of the entire conspiracy to bury the scam.

''We don’t expect justice from CID, which has been asked to probe the scam as per the Government’s order,” Siddaramaiah said and pointed out that the writ of police does not run in BBMP.

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said that the Government has handed over the probe to Crime Investigation Department and it has already commenced the probe and there was no need for a discussion on it in the House.

The scam was not of the order of Rs 1,500 crore as alleged by the opposition, the chief minister said explaining that works worth Rs 5.22 crore had not been carried out and fake bills produced.

Sharan Prakash Patil (Congress), who made preliminary submission seeking to move an adjournment motion on the issue, said there was corruption to the extent of Rs 1,500 crore in the three wards between 2008 and 2010, when BBMP did not have any elected representatives.

If a comprehensive probe is conducted in all the wards, Patil said the actual extent of the entire scam would be to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore. He demanded constitution of a House committee to probe the scam in detail.

JD(S) leader H D Revanna alleged that the CID probe would not be useful and the officials file probe reports as per the wish of the Ministers and higher officials.