Anti-Corruption Officer Claims ₹46,000 Crore For Bengaluru Roads Was Diverted, Seeks ED Probe

A massive corruption scandal involving Rs 46,300 crore has come to light in Karnataka, with NR Ramesh, president of the Anti-Corruption Forum, accusing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) of misusing public funds. In a formal complaint to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Ramesh has implicated BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath, administrative officer Umashankar, and 18 senior IAS officers in what could be one of India's largest municipal scams.

Ramesh's complaint alleges that funds allocated for critical road development projects-such as white-topping, drainage work, and asphalt construction-between 2013-14 and 2023-24 were grossly misappropriated. Out of Rs 46,300 crore sanctioned over the 9.5-year period, he claims that more than 75% of the funds were siphoned off.

To support his allegations, Ramesh has submitted 4,113 pages of documents to the ED. These records reportedly expose the misuse of public funds and discrepancies in grant allocations and project execution. He has urged the ED to investigate the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and other applicable laws to bring those responsible to justice.

The complaint names several top officials, including BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath and other senior IAS officers, accusing them of corruption, fraud, forgery, and abuse of power. Ramesh has called for the ED to register cases under relevant sections and conduct a comprehensive investigation.

At the heart of the alleged scam are funds intended for vital infrastructure projects in Bengaluru, such as road repairs and drainage systems. Despite substantial grants being disbursed, Ramesh asserts that the completed work falls far short of the allocated funds, indicating widespread corruption within the system.