BENGALURU: A day after a prominent Lingayat seer in North Karnataka claimed the state government takes a 30% commission on grants sanctioned for mutts, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said he is willing to order a probe into the allegations.
At a public event in Badagandi, Bilgi taluk in Bagalkot district on Sunday, Sri Dingaleshwar Swami, seer of Balehosur Mutt in Shirahatti, Gadag district, said: “Every one knows what is happening. If a grant is given to a swamiji [mutt], it is given only after a 30% commission is taken as a cut.”
He said corruption was so rampant that even mutts are not spared. Reacting to the comments, Bommai said: “He [Dingaleshwar] is among the most revered seers. He is a great tapasvi [hermit] with a good track record and entire Karnataka knows about it. We have great respect for him and consider his allegations serious.
But he must provide evidence to prove his claims instead of making such sweeping remarks.” Bommai requested the seer to reveal details to whom he or whoever else paid kickback. “We will then order an investigation,” Bommai said. The Lingayat seer’s re marks come in the wake of similar allegations from Karnataka Civil Contractors’ Association. BC Patil, agriculture minister, criticised the seer saying, “He is talking like a Congress worker. Earlier he supported former CM BS Yediyurappa... He has now shown his chameleon nature.”
As expected, Congress latched on to the seer’s comments and attacked the government on corruption. Dinesh Gundurao, Congress MLA, hit out at the government saying: “What more evidence is required? If the government does not also protect Swamiji’s, then what sanctity is left?”
