Karnataka CM Urged to Probe Corruption in Transfers

BENGALURU: Minister for Agriculture and Mandya district incharge N. Cheluvaraya Swamy on Monday asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to order a probe into the allegations of cash dealings in transfer of officials in his ministry for the truth to come out.

The Minister asked the Chief Minister to conduct a probe under Chief Secretary into the allegations of corruption in transfers in the department of agriculture. Responding to a query on complaints to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot being lodged against him, the Minister said “It is far from truth that some officials concerned of Mandya district have lodged a complaint with the Governor but it’s in fact a conspiracy hatched by a few persons.”

Adding he said that the conspiracy has been hatched to cause damage to the reputation of the State Government and termed the attempts to defame the State Government as an act of ‘desperation.’  

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party State unit president Mukyamantri Chandru asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to drop Cheluvarayaswamy from the cabinet over the allegations of corruption in transfer of officials in the agriculture department. Chandru cited that if the Minister is continued in the post then there are chances he may tamper with the evidence and exert pressure on the officials concerned.

Chandru wanted the CM to instill confidence among the officials concerned who have dared to complain against the Minister and also to lodge a complaint the Minister in Lokayukta.