Bengaluru: 10 per cent cut! BJP slams M Krishnappa, R V Devaraj

Bengaluru: Senior leaders of the  BJP on Wednesday accused Housing Minister, M. Krishnappa and Slum Development Board chairman, R.V.Devaraj of taking a 10 per cent commission when awarding contracts for construction of houses under the Prime Minister's Awas Yojana. 

Speaking to reporters, Mr Jagadish Shettar, and Mr K.S. Eshwarappa alleged that both men had colluded with officials of the Housing Board to award short-term tenders for construction of houses under the scheme and earn a Rs. 250 crore commission. Demanding a  CBI probe into the matter, Mr. Eshwarappa called for  Mr. Krishanappa's resignation as well. 

Meanwhile, to back his charge against the two men, Mr Shettar released a letter by Mr Devaraj to the commissioner of the Slum Development Board, drawing attention to discrepancies in inviting of tenders under the yojana. He writes in the letter : "There are discrepancies in calling for tenders for construction of 50,000 houses at a cost of Rs 2500 crore under the Houses for All scheme. A few contractors have submitted bogus documents to get the tender with the connivance of the technical director of the Slum Development Board, Balraj Thus the tender must be annulled and a fresh one called." 

While Mr Devaraj also suggested constitution of a committee to probe the irregularities and wrote  similar letters to Mr. Krishnappa and the Chief Secretary, Mr Shettar argued that his intention was not to expose the guilty , but to get part of the money that was allegedly to be made in the deal.