Published Feb 04, 2026 | 10:47 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 04, 2026 | 10:47 AM
The BJP and JD(S) held an overnight agitation in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
Synopsis: The BJP and JD(S) held an overnight agitation in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly demanding the resignation of Excise Minister RB Timmapur over allegations of corruption in his department. However, Timmapur claimed that corruption wasn’t a new phenomenon, especially in his department.
The BJP and JD(S) held an overnight agitation in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, 3 February, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister RB Timmapur over allegations of corruption in his department.
The BJP has been claiming that bribes are being demanded to issue liquor licenses. Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka charged that the alleged scam ran to the tune of ₹6,000 crore.
However, Timmapur claimed that corruption wasn’t a new phenomenon, especially in his department.
“After I became the minister, I simplified the process and brought in the system of counselling. I made a provision for renewal every five years because doing it annually makes it a problem. Wasn’t that a change? There were 16 login need for CL-7, where everyone used to delay the process. I reduced these logins to seven,” Timmapur stated.
The BJP used purported audio clips to claim that an officer caught by Lokayukta for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹25 lakh had mentioned the name of the minister.
However, Timmapur alleged that the officer in question was ‘misusing’ his name.
Listing out alleged scams during the BJP rule, the minister said, “How many ministers resigned? No one resigned. I introduced many reforms after discussing with the CM. My involvement is nil. Should I resign? What mistake have I committed? I reject all these bogus stories of my involvement in corruption.”
The protest came just a day after the Karnataka BJP submitted a petition to Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti demanding immediate suspension of Congress MLC Naseer Ahmed from the House for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Chairman expunged the remarks made by the MLC. However, BJP members staged a protest from the well of the House, demanding that Ahmed apologise.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Anisha Reddy.)
