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Bengaluru, Oct 30 (IANS) The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday demanded the resignation of Assembly Speaker UT Khadar and a judicial inquiry into alleged corruption in the installation of smart locks at the houses of MLAs in Bengaluru.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, BJP MLA and state SC Morcha president Cement Manjunath alleged that “a huge corruption scam” had taken place in the procurement and installation of smart door locks under the supervision of the Speaker’s office. Manjunath said, “This matter should be investigated through a judicial inquiry and Speaker UT Khader should step down immediately.”
He claimed that despite formal requests from the MLAs, Khader’s office had installed smart locks in 224 rooms of the MLA residence. “The locks were imposed unnecessarily and there is a huge discrepancy between the actual market cost and the billed price,” he alleged.
Manjunath said that while the price of a high-quality smart lock in the market is around Rs 11,744, the bill rate was Rs 49,300 per unit. “At the rate billed for one lock, three locks could have been purchased,” he said, presenting documents showing comparative market rates.
“The tender process was not conducted properly. The contract was deliberately given to associates of the Speaker’s district, thereby increasing the cost by about Rs 37,500 per unit,” he claimed.
He alleged that the purchase amounted to financial mismanagement and misuse of public funds. He said, “Even though we did not request smart locks, they were installed, and the bill amount is very high. The market rate is Rs 8,100, but the bill shows Rs 35,000. This is clear corruption by the Speaker’s office.”
Manjunath demanded that the Speaker clarify on the alleged irregularities worth lakhs of rupees and reiterated the demand for a judicial inquiry. “The Speaker should explain to the people of Karnataka how these inflated bills were approved,” he said, adding that further steps would be taken after Khaddar’s clarification.
He also claimed that unnecessary expenditure has been incurred in the assembly complex. Demonstrating one of the installed locks at a press conference, he said: “They claimed that the locks used lithium batteries, but in reality, they installed ordinary battery-powered locks.”
Manjunath further commented that the public’s doubts required proper clarification. “Whenever doubts are raised in the public sphere, those in power should respond in a transparent manner,” he said. He said the rates he quoted included GST and urged the Speaker to verify the market prices himself.
He said former president and BJP MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri will soon submit a formal complaint to the Governor regarding the alleged corruption, while the party leadership will decide the further course of action.
State SC Morcha general secretary Mahendra Kautal, while addressing the media, also hit out at Minister Priyank Kharge and accused him of supporting the Bhim Army – an outfit he alleged was trying to disrupt the RSS foot march in Chittapur. Kautal said, “Bhim Army is defaming the name of Dr. BR Ambedkar. There is no real representation of Dalit or Scheduled Tribe communities in it.”
He further alleged that people associated with the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) were involved in the protests in Bengaluru and were also active in Chittapur. He quipped, “Priyank Kharge should change the name of Bhim Army to Minority Army or name it after religious leaders.”
MLA Chandru Lamani and State SC Morcha Office Secretary Prashant Kumar were also present in the press conference.
–IANS
MKA/PGH