Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike scam could be in the region of Rs 10,000-20,000 cr: Congress

BANGALORE: The Congress today demanded in Karnataka Assembly a CBI probe into the multi-crore bogus bill scam in the city corporation Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said as per the enquiry ordered by then BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah, it is a Rs 1,539 crore scam in three BBMP wards.

The Congress leader alleged that after the enquiry report came in public domain, records were burnt in BBMP office, with an attempt to destroy evidence and demanded a CBI probe into the scam.

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda noted that the Crime Investigation Department is already probing the scam and hence there is no need for a discussion on it in the House.

"It (the scam) has not happened to the extent of Rs 1,500 crore. Prima facie, it is to the tune of Rs 5.22 crore pertaining to bills for works which had not been carried out", Gowda said.

Siddaramaiah, however, said, "We don't expect justice from CID."

If enquiry is conducted in all the BBMP wards, the size of the scam may top Rs 10,000 crore, he alleged. "Why was Siddaiah transferred?", he wanted to know.

H D Revanna (JD-S) alleged that people don't trust CID, whose top officials force lower rank officers to file report according to their wish.

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

"If enquiry is conducted in all the wards, it is estimated that it's a Rs 20,000 crore scam", Patil said, and demanded that a House committee be constituted to probe it.

Speaker K G Bopaiah declined permission for the adjournment motion, but allowed discussion under a different rule to be taken up later.