Karnataka Governor seeks probe against agriculture minister, cites letter from officers on bribe demand

The Agriculture Department’s joint director in Mandya, Ashok VS, however, insisted that none of the officials had written to the Governor. He termed the letter “fake”.

Cheluvarayaswamy, also the district in-charge minister of Mandya, denied demanding bribes. He said he had asked the chief minister to investigate the charges against him.

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Additional chief secretary to probe

“The assistant agriculture officers and staff from Mandya, Malavalli, Krishnarajapete, Pandavapura, Nagamangala, Srirangapatana, and Maddur have filed a written complaint to the Governor,” the letter from the Raj Bhavan said.

“The officers are alleging that the minister, via the joint director of the Agriculture Department of Mandya, is demanding ₹6-8 lakh. If the authorities do not put an end to corruption, officials stated they would take poison along with their family members,” it added.

“The complaints should be verified as per the laws, and act accordingly,” the letter read.

The chief secretary directed Additional Chief Secretary Rajneesh Goel to the chief minister to investigate the matter.

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Police waiting for written complaint

The Agriculture Department’s joint director Ashok said he came to know of the letter through media reports.

“I verified with all the AADs and none of them have written a letter to the Governor complaining against the minister,” he told South First.

“I have already spoken to the Mandya superintendent of police (SP). I will consult the higher authorities and then decide on the future course of action on the fake complaint letter written to the Governor,” he further said.

Ashok denied receiving any demand for money from Cheluvarayaswamy.

South First reached out to assistant agriculture directors of Mandya, Malavalli, Pandavapura, Nagamangala, and Krishnarajapete — mentioned in the Raj Bhavan’s letter. All of them denied writing to the Governor accusing the minister of demanding bribes.

Pandavapura AAD Priyadarshini told South First: “I have not written any letter to the Governor accusing the minister of demanding money. It came to my notice only when I saw it in news reports.”

Malavali AAD Jayaramaiah told South First: “I have neither approached the Governor nor made bribery allegations against the minister. I have not written any letter to the Governor. We have also said this to the JD-Agri in the meeting.”

Meanwhile, Mandya SP Yathish N told South First: “The joint director spoke to me regarding the fake letter. I have not received any written complaint from the officer to launch an investigation. We can investigate only when the complaint is filed. As of now, there has been only oral communication.”

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Minister responds

Denying that he had sought bribes, minister N Cheluvarayaswamy said such allegations were intentionally being levelled against him.

“Some people are creating confusion. In the past, a similar conspiracy took place in the bus driver’s attempt to suicide case,” he told reporters in Mandya.

ಸಹಾಯಕ ಕೃಷಿ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರಿಂದ ರಾಜಭವನಕ್ಕೆ ದೂರು ವಿಚಾರ ಮಂಡ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ ನೀಡಿದೆ.

| #mandya | #nagamangala | #karnatakastategovernment | #Cheluvarayaswamy | #agriculture | #Minister | pic.twitter.com/9AHI3DxKuO

— N Chaluvarayaswamy (@Chaluvarayaswam) August 7, 2023

“The agriculture officials have said that it is a fake letter. However, I have urged the chief minister to investigate the matter to know the truth,” he stated.

“I and my officials have never made any such demand to agriculture officials. The joint director held a virtual meeting with all assistant agriculture officers. It has come to my notice that none of them have written the letter,” he added.

“As per the primary investigation, it is a fake letter. I have also directed the Mandya SP to investigate the matter,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary’s Office confirmed to South First that they had received a letter from the Governor’s secretariat and forwarded it to the additional chief secretary to the chief minister.

Also read: BJP leaders accuse Karnataka Police of turning partisan

BJP demands minister’s resignation

The BJP, meanwhile, demanded Cheluvarayaswamy’s resignation from the Siddaramaiah Cabinet.

Terming the Congress government “80 percent sarkar“, Vijayapura City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal tweeted: “Nothing is happening under this government except transfer scam. It’s just cash and carry.”

The previous BJP government had been termed a “40 percent corruption sarkar” after it was alleged that contractors were asked to give 40 percent of their pending dues.

The only “TRANSPARENCY” in Siddaramaiahs government is “Bid” for Transfers!

Higher the Bid, Highest Post! It’s Just Cash and Carry!

Corruption Levels in Transfers have Reached the Max Limits.

8 Asst.Directors for Agriculture have written to Governor against Minister… pic.twitter.com/FnGY19plss

— Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) (@BasanagoudaBJP) August 7, 2023

“The agriculture officials have complained to the Governor accusing Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy of demanding bribes. How desperate must he be for money from the officials,” Patil asked.

“Not only the common people but every official of the state is shocked by your bribery. It is the misfortune of the state that the officials must pay various off the record taxes,” BJP former national general secretary CT Ravi tweeted:

“Even the senior officials must work in a state of fear and have to appeal to the Governor for justice. Such a corrupt model is your Karnataka model,” he asked the chief minister.