Karnataka minister Anjaneya’s wife in sting expose, Siddaramaiah squirms

The visuals of Mr Anjaneya’s wife standing in front of a table laden with currency notes in the minister’s official residence were telecast throughout the day on Thursday by a private television channel. Though Mr Anjaneya dismissed it as a “deep-rooted conspiracy” to defame him, and that he had explained everything to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Mrs Shalini Rajneesh, principal secretary, department of social welfare, has been asked to probe allegations of corruption in allotment of contracts, and deputy director Prabhakar, shown as the conduit in the sting operation, has been placed under

suspension.

The sting operation exposes how decisions are taken on awarding contracts—in this case a call on tender for supply of food to hostels for the backward classes. During the conversation Mr Prabhakar divulges information on the status of the tender, and how the file was awaiting final approval by Mr Anjaneya, and that a kick-back of one to 1.5 per cent of the amount involved ought to be paid to the minister. In this case, the official agrees for Rs seven to eight lakhs for a project with a budget of Rs ten crores.

The clippings also reveal how the official escorts the team to the official residence of Mr Anjaneya and the currency notes wrapped in a newspaper placed on a table in front of Mrs Anjaneya. On his part, Mr Siddaramaiah merely said he had not watched the telecast but would look into the matter.