Cong upset as Karnataka CID probing irregularities in police SI recruitment summons MLA Kharge

PTI, Apr 26, 2022, 9:54 AM IST

Bengaluru: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing the irregularities in the recruitment of police sub-inspectors in Karnataka has summoned Congress MLA Priyank Kharge, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said on Monday.

Kharge had recently released an audio recording of a conversation regarding the irregularities (in the SI recruitment), which he said was submitted to him, Jnanendra said in a statement.

“The CID probing the irregularities in the SI recruitment has issued a notice to Priyank Kharge to appear before it for questioning. I appeal to the MLA to display his responsibility and assist the CID, which is probing the case in the right direction, by sharing evidence with them,” the minister said.

Kharge should cooperate with the probe by sharing the documents with him and other information with the CID officials and he should at least assist in ensuring legal action against those involved in the irregularities, he said.

“As an impartial probe is on, there is no question of sparing anyone however influential that person is,” Jnanendra said.

The minister said he ordered a probe into the matter after discussing with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to render justice to the candidates who sincerely wrote the SI exam but could not get selected.

Such irregularities cause immense damage to society when the talented aspirants coming from poor families are cornered due to such illegalities, he said.

Kharge, a former minister, alleged that the CID served him a notice to divert attention as the investigation is heading nowhere.

The Congress legislator also said he can give his reply in writing and there was no compulsion on him to appear in person.

Refuting the charge that he led a sting operation, Kharge told reporters in Bengaluru that the information he shared was already in the public domain such as documents signed by the officials, replies given in the Karnataka legislature assembly and council.

The transcript of the audio was published in newspapers, he added.

“What information do they have then? If they have no information, why are they hiding it? Shouldn’t they give the information? I have been served notice but not the person who had meals with the accused and the head of the executive head of recruitment,” Kharge charged.

The Congress has reacted sharply to the notice and rallied behind Kharge.

“The notice to @PriyankKharge by CID police after @karkalasunil’s statement implies that @BJP4Karnataka is trying to silence everyone speaking on the scam. Corruption is part of BJP’s DNA, and no lies can deny this. Investigating agencies may be with BJP, but people are with us (sic),” Siddaramaiah tweeted.

He alleged that the demand by Energy Minister K Sunil Kumar to initiate investigation against Kharge for questioning the SI scam “exposes the political bankruptcy of BJP government in Karnataka”.

“We will not budge to these threats & @INCKarnataka stands with @PriyankKharge,” Siddaramaiah further tweeted.

Congress state president D K Shivakumar and senior party MLA U T Khader too took strong exception to the notice and said the party will not be intimidated by such notices.

Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, Khader said the government should hold a comprehensive probe into the recruitment scam.

He said the corruption in the process cannot be done without the involvement of officials of the department concerned. A blacklisted college was chosen as the examination centre to execute the plan for corruption, he alleged.

Khader also slammed the CID that is probing the scam for issuing notice to Kharge who shared the information on the public domain.

The scam happened in Kalaburagi district and Kharge is an MLA from Chittapur assembly constituency in the same district. His father Mallikarjun Kharge, a former Union minister, too was an MP from Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) Lok Sabha constituency.

More than 10 people have been arrested including the Afzalpur MLA’s gunman. A BJP leader, who was close to many high-profile leaders in Karnataka, is on the run while her husband has been arrested.

The case came to light after an aspirant was given 100 per cent marks though he had attempted only 21 questions in one of the question papers.

More than 54,000 candidates wrote the exam for 545 posts. Police sources said the initial probe revealed that up to Rs 75 lakh to 80 lakh was charged from the candidates as bribe.