Diwali is the season when sweets, dry fruits and a box of good wishes are exchanged. However, for the Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office, the festival of lights included adding another packet to the hamper – Rs 1 lakh in cash for a select group of journalists.
The Lokayukta complaint has been filed by an anti-corruption NGO, Janadhikar Sangharsh Parishad (JSP), demanding a probe into the distribution.
“It is alleged that this payment of money as part of Diwali gift, a sweet box to gain undue advantage in concealment and concealment of various allegations being published/ circulated against the Government led by the Chief Minister of Karnataka equates to serious allegations of bribery. JSP co-president Adarsh Iyer said in his letter addressed to the ADGP, Karnataka Lokayukta.
The JSP has demanded registration of a criminal case against the Karnataka Chief Minister and his media coordinator under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and the amendments in 2018.
As happens during the festive season, a box of sweets and dry fruits is sent to the media houses as a token from the CMO. A representative from the Chief Minister’s Office meets and greets journalists and editors on behalf of the CM.
But the package, which arrived at select television and print media offices on 22 October, angered journalists as some of the regional and national media, who covered politics, sent them a ‘special handicap’ with two 500-rupee notes. Gaya, totaling Rs 1 lakh.
News18 confirmed with a group of journalists and editors who were sent an “outrageous Diwali hamper” that they returned it to the CMO with a warning.
“At first it looked like a harmless Diwali sweet. But when we opened the material and found an amount of Rs 1 lakh, we immediately called up the CMO media representative and conveyed our objection. We very clearly said this was unacceptable and it was never to be repeated,” said a senior journalist requesting anonymity.
“It was not only shocking to receive this, but it is ridiculous that it can be assumed that money can be given to the media,” said another reporter, who took the issue to the attention of her superiors. brought in.
Sources say that soon after the issue was brought to the notice of CM Bommai, he personally called the editors of media outlets to apologize for the “mistake” committed by his office inadvertently.
News18 reached out to the CMO and media officials, but did not comment or comment on the issue.
The Congress raised the issue and demanded a detailed inquiry into the matter. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), through its official Twitter handle, termed it as misuse of taxpayers’ money by the ruling BJP government.
“What is the source of the money? How much has been bribed? How many received the bribe? How many (journalists) returned?” The state Congress unit questioned the move.
The party said the ‘PECM’ campaign which accused the BJP and CM Bommai of 40 per cent corruption in the administration was based on facts and was a shining example of this.
“This government is taking bribes and giving bribes. All bribes are sent through ‘PayCM’. The government is trying to suppress scams by buying media outlets just like the government came to power by buying MLAs,” his tweet added.
Senior Congress leader and Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala demanded to know the source of the money and drew the attention of the Enforcement Directorate and the IT department.
Reacting to the allegations, the Karnataka BJP in a tweet said: “Congress is shooting in the dark and making false allegations. Congress seems to have forgotten that their leader DK Shivakumar had given iPhones which became big news across the state.
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