Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah receives report of H. N. Nagamohan Das Commission on ‘40% commission’ allegations

The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association had filed a complaint alleging that more than 40% commission was being demanded in government tender works in Karnataka by leaders of the then BJP government.

The Justice H. N. Nagamohan Das Commission, which was constituted to inquire into allegations of demand of ‘40% commission’ levelled against the previous BJP administration in Karnataka, submitted a 20,000-page report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on March 12.

The ‘40% commission’ allegation had rocked State politics and became a major poll plank for the Congress, helping it wrest power from the BJP in the 2023 Assembly elections.

The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association had filed a complaint alleging that more than 40% commission was being demanded in government tender works.

The association also requested an investigation into issues such as the abandonment of the package system, fixation of the Schedule of Rates (SR) list, implementation of the star rate system, ensuring transparency in tendering, bill payments based on seniority, and preventing the direct award of works to contractors through the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL).

The commission conducted a detailed inquiry into these allegations, and submitted its report.

Acknowledging that public statements and details were crucial in this probe, the commission thoroughly examined complaints received from the public, incorporating their suggestions and opinions in the report.

Along with investigating the contractors’ association’s allegations, the government also mandated an inquiry into all works carried out between July 26, 2019, and March 31, 2023, across five major departments.