States » SouthPosted at: Nov 8 2026 7:30PM


Kumaraswamy alleges bribery network in Hassan, Shivalingegowda rejects charges

Hassan, Nov 8 (UNI) A political confrontation erupted in Karnataka on Sunday after union Minister HD Kumaraswamy levelled corruption allegations against Hassan Deputy Commissioner KS Lathakumari and district officials, prompting district in-charge Minister Shivalingegowda to strongly deny any wrongdoing and challenge the charges.
Releasing alleged WhatsApp chat records of Shashikiran, described as a close aide of the Deputy Commissioner, Kumaraswamy accused the district administration of collecting bribes from stone crusher operators and residential plot owners through intermediaries and routing the money to officials.
Addressing the media at the residence of Hassan MLA Swaroop Prakash, the union Minister claimed that the conversations exposed an organised network of illegal collections involving the Deputy Commissioner's office.
He cited alleged transactions involving Rs 60 lakh, including Rs 50 lakh purportedly meant for the Deputy Commissioner, and amounts of Rs 22 lakh and Rs 13 lakh allegedly linked to the Assistant Commissioner and Tahsildar respectively.
He also alleged that Rs 75 lakh had been routed through Tahsildar Santosh to facilitate the continuation of the Deputy Commissioner in Hassan.
Kumaraswamy demanded that the mobile phones of the officials named in the allegations be seized and subjected to forensic examination to establish the authenticity of the WhatsApp conversations and trace the alleged money trail.
Rejecting the charges, Shivalingegowda asserted that not a single rupee had been misappropriated in the arrangements for the Hassanamba Jatra Mahotsav and that he would not allow any money to be wasted.
Responding at a press conference here, the minister accused Kumaraswamy of looking for faults unnecessarily and urged him not to indulge in what he described as low-level politics over a religious event.
"Kumaraswamy has not yet given up the habit of looking for stones in curd. He should give up this habit," Shivalingegowda said.
Expressing anguish over the allegations, he said he was prepared to swear on the feet of Goddess Hassanamba that no corruption had taken place under his watch.
"I have not slept at home for the last 20 days. I have been working day and night in Hassan. The Chief Minister has entrusted me with a responsibility, and I have worked sincerely to ensure the festival is conducted successfully," he said.
Shivalingegowda also said he would produce eyewitness accounts to establish that the festival arrangements had been conducted transparently.
The exchange has escalated the political confrontation in Hassan, with Kumaraswamy demanding scrutiny of the alleged bribery network and Shivalingegowda defending the district administration and the conduct of the Hassanamba festival.
The financial transactions and bribery allegations mentioned in the report are claims made by Kumaraswamy and have not been independently established.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Kumaraswamy alleges bribery network in Hassan# Shivalingegowda rejects charges
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