Housing Minister's personal assistant Sarfaraz Khan denied the allegations, saying that people who received the bribe would be sent to jail if the details were provided.
Published Jun 21, 2025 | 1:08 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 21, 2025 | 1:08 PM
BR Patil alleged that those who paid bribes were allotted houses, ignoring the recommendations made by people's representatives.
Synopsis: The Opposition BJP has taken the opportunity to fire at the Siddaramaiah government after Congress MLA BR Patil’s conversation with Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan’s assistant Sarfaraz Khan was leaked. In the audio clip, the MLA was heard saying that houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Limited were allotted to those who had paid bribes.
A major controversy erupted soon after the Karnataka Cabinet approved a proposal to increase housing scheme reservation to 15 percent.
On Friday, 20 June, an audio clip went viral of a conversation, purportedly between the Deputy Chairman of Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission and Congress MLA BR Patil and Sarfaraz Khan, the personal assistant to Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. The conversation triggered some damning allegations against the government.
Patil, in the leaked conversation, was heard expressing displeasure over allegations that houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Limited were being allotted to those who paid bribes and that legitimate recommendations from elected officials like himself were being ignored.
“Houses are being allotted only to those who have paid bribes. I am saddened to raise this complaint against my government. A total of 950 houses across different villages have been allotted after taking money from the beneficiaries. My recommendation letters are being ignored. Instead, preference is given to the list submitted by the Gram Panchayat President,” he was heard saying.
Patil further complained that 950 houses, including 200 houses at Munnalli village in the Aland assembly constituency, 100 in Darga Shiroor, 200 in Dhangapura, 200 in Kavalaga, and 200 in Madiyal villages, were allotted to ineligible people after taking bribes. Houses have also been allotted after taking money in the neighbouring Afzalpur assembly constituency.
“Whoever has paid money, got houses. Is this business?” He then questions why the Housing Corporation has given preference to those who “paid money” over those recommended by him. “What respect will I have if this happens?” Patil asked Sarfaraz Khan.
Sarfaraz Khan tried to deny the allegations, saying those who had received bribes would be sent to jail if the details were provided.
Patil went on to warn that if the list of beneficiaries was made public, the government would be “shaken.”
The MLA confirmed to the media that it was his voice that was heard in the audio clip. “I have spoken, I have told everyone that I have spoken. What I had to say, I have said it. Do not know what the chief minister will do now. If he calls, I will go speak with him.”
The Opposition BJP has now slammed the government over the leaked audio clip. Senior BJP leader, former chief minister, and member of the BJP Central Parliamentary Board BS Yediyurappa accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of being mired in rampant corruption and having stalled nearly all developmental works.
“What BR Patil said is 100% true. No work gets done without money. Even poor people who need houses are forced to pay bribes. The government must acknowledge this fault and correct it to deliver justice to the underprivileged,” he said.
On Saturday, 21 June, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, took to X to target the government.
Karnataka Housing Minister @BZZameerAhmedK continues to cling to power, even as his own party’s MLA exposes deep-rooted corruption and blatant irregularities in house allocations! What moral right does @BZZameerAhmedK have to remain in office when integrity is clearly in question, and that too from within his own ranks?”
He further wrote: “This stinks to high heaven. How much commission are CM @siddaramaiah and DCM @DKShivakumar pocketing from this scam? Do @RahulGandhi, @rssurjewala and @kcvenugopalmp also get a cut?”
“The people of Karnataka demand answers from @INCIndia and Shri @Kharge avaru,” he added.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
