Karnataka minister Zameer Khan says ready for any probe into Congress MLA’s housing bribery claim: ‘Let B R Patil name them’

In the audio clip that surfaced last week, the MLA alleged that houses under the corporation were allotted in return for bribes in his constituency. The names of beneficiaries recommended by him were not considered while allotting around 950 houses, but those picked by a panchayat member were selected, Patil was heard saying.

Pointing out that Patil had not levelled any allegations against him, Zameer Ahmed Khan said, “There should be clarity on who took the bribe. Is it the panchayat member, any officer or the minister?”

The minister said he was open to an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation. “If anyone took the money, they should be investigated and strict action should be taken against them,” he said, adding that a departmental inquiry was already underway in the matter.

Zameer Ahmed Khan said that all the houses sanctioned in the Aland constituency were based on panchayats recommended by him.

“Let B R Patil name those who took money from the poor beneficiaries. We will take action against them. The contribution (by the government for building houses) is Rs 1.2 lakh. Is it possible to take Rs 5,000-10,000 for that? …. There is no question of taking bribes from the poor for such schemes,” he said.

Patil’s allegation has come handy for Opposition parties, which claim there is widespread corruption in the Congress government. The government was left embarrassed when Congress MLA Belur Gopalkrishna suggested that Khan should resign as a minister in the wake of Patil’s allegation.

Responding to a question about the suggestion, Khan said, “If it is proved that I am involved, I will resign. No one has to ask for it.”