Arakalgud JD(S) MLA A Manju has complained to the Karnataka Lokayukta alleging that Rs 60 lakh was demanded to clear files related to a stone crusher and land conversion in Hassan district, bringing renewed scrutiny to delays and alleged influence in district-level administration.
Manju told reporters on Friday that he had submitted a formal complaint to the Lokayukta’s ADGP seeking a comprehensive and impartial investigation. According to the MLA, the alleged demand involved Hassan deputy commissioner KS Latha Kumari’s personal assistant, Shashikiran, and an alleged middleman.
The complaint is reportedly based on WhatsApp conversations and documents. Manju said the chats allegedly discussed money, the pledging of gold jewellery and the distribution of amounts among different individuals. He also alleged that the conversations contained derogatory references to the deputy commissioner, the district minister and the MP.
The allegations have not been established independently. The Lokayukta’s response or the outcome of any investigation was not stated in the report. Manju has demanded action against all those found involved, regardless of their official position.
The MLA also questioned the timing of the complaint. He alleged that deputy commissioner Latha Kumari had pressured Shashikiran to lodge a complaint only after Union minister HD Kumaraswamy raised the issue. The report did not provide the contents of the alleged complaint or an independent response from the deputy commissioner’s office to these claims.
Manju further accused Latha Kumari of crossing administrative boundaries by making political statements against elected representatives. Referring to the rules governing IAS officers from 1968, he questioned whether she had obtained permission from her superiors before making such statements. He demanded her immediate transfer from Hassan.
The dispute has also been linked to the functioning of the deputy commissioner’s office. Manju alleged that around 15,000 to 16,000 files were pending, causing hardship to farmers. The report did not specify the period covered by this figure, the nature of all pending files or whether the number had been verified by the district administration.
A separate JD(S) legislators’ delegation led by CB Suresh Babu submitted a complaint to Karnataka chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh on Wednesday, seeking a comprehensive investigation. The Lokayukta complaint and the representation to the chief secretary now place the allegations before two state-level institutional channels.
The next steps will depend on the Lokayukta’s examination of the WhatsApp conversations, documents and other material cited in the complaint, as well as any administrative inquiry ordered by the chief secretary.
