Officials running a ‘mafia’ to extract bribes for issuing e-Khatas in Bengaluru: R. Ashok

The Opposition BJP on Tuesday accused the ruling Congress of “systemic governance failure in Bengaluru”, alleging large-scale corruption in the e-Khata system operated by five city corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).

Speaking during a debate on Bengaluru development in the Legislative Assembly, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok claimed that city corporation officials were running a “mafia” to extract bribes for issuing e-Khatas, even targeting property owners who had duly paid taxes. He alleged that in some cases, officials initiated auction proceedings despite tax compliance.

Mr. Ashok criticised Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s “Brand Bengaluru” initiative, stating that corruption within the system had undermined governance. He presented documents in the House to counter Mr. Shivakumar’s claim that no bribery had occurred under the Congress government.

Citing specific instances, Mr. Ashok alleged that in HBR Layout, a property owner was forced to pay bribes in instalments to secure an e-Khata. At the same time, similar demands of up to ₹50,000 were reported in Devanahalli. He claimed that private intermediaries were charging ₹30,000–₹40,000 per property to facilitate approvals.

The BJP leader further highlighted persistent civic issues, including pothole-ridden roads, poor waste management, and inadequate infrastructure. Despite claims of significant expenditure, he alleged that road repairs remain incomplete and garbage disposal systems are ineffective, with thousands of tonnes of waste left unmanaged daily.

Financial crunch

Raising financial concerns, Mr. Ashok said the GBA/city corporations face a severe resource crunch, with revenues insufficient to meet salary and operational expenses, leaving the city ill-prepared for emergencies such as floods.

He flagged delays in issuing occupancy certificates (OCs), noting that nearly four lakh buildings remain unused. Questioning the approval process, he asked why construction permissions were granted if OCs could not be issued later.

Works halted

Highlighting a shortage of funds, Mr. Ashok said several key infrastructure projects in Bengaluru — including the Ejipura flyover, Ullal grade separator, Rajarajeshwari Nagar junction, and Kengeri Outer Ring Road — have come to a standstill. He alleged that, despite government claims of adequate funding, payments to contractors have been delayed, resulting in work stoppages. He cited a contractor’s letter to the GBA complaining of pending dues.

He criticised the slow rollout of welfare schemes, stating that initiatives such as the distribution of pushcarts and ironing boxes for self-employment have not been implemented since the government assumed office.

He further claimed that although the government announced an allocation of ₹7,000 crores–₹8,000 crore for Bengaluru, only about ₹3,000 crore has been released so far. Referring to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Budget proposal to raise ₹48,000 crore through bonds, Mr. Ashok argued that merely creating new corporations is insufficient and called for greater financial support for the city.