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What’s new at BBMP? A Rs223 crore scam

At a press meet on Monday, Amaresh, managing trustee of the Right to Information Study Centre, alleged that several irregularities took place between March 2006 and November 2011.

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While CID investigations are still going on pertaining to the multi-crore bogus bill scam in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), yet another scam has unfolded involving misappropriation of Central Reserve Funds (CRF) worth Rs223 crore. This was brought to light by RTI activist S Amaresh.

At a press meet on Monday, Amaresh, managing trustee of the Right to Information Study Centre, alleged that several irregularities took place between March 2006 and November 2011.

Amaresh said that the CRF was primarily used for ward-level and emergency works.

“In 2006, 2007, 2010, and 2011, a sum of Rs174 crore was allocated for CRF in the BBMP budget. But the BBMP utilised Rs397.48 crore instead of  Rs223.38 crore. This sum exceeded the funds that were allocated. The details were procured from the RTI,” he said.

Amaresh said that the BBMP commissioners, who held the post for five years, were aware of it. “Contractors, zonal executive engineers, elected representatives, chief accounts officers, and deputy controller of finance are directly involved in the irregularities along with the commissioners. The excess funds were released because of pressure from contractors, elected representatives, and engineers,” he said.

He added that excess funds were released without the government’s consent.

When asked for details via the RTI Act, the BBMP refused to divulge information, Amaresh said.

Centre trustee BH Veeresh said that the BBMP must restore the vigilance squad, which was disbanded. The public can file their complaints with the squad.

“We are planning to file a writ petition in the high court pertaining to the Rs223 crore scam. We want the government to conduct an enquiry of the five commissioners: K Jothiramalingam, K Jairaj, S Subramanya, Bharatlal Meena, and Siddaiah,” he said. N Vikram Simha, a trustee, said that on various occasions the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) commissioner had favoured corrupt officials.

“We will give a memorandum to governor HR Bhardwaj to conduct thorough investigation and ask the commissioners to declare their assets and liabilities on the KIC website,” he said.

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