The Bangalore Metro Reporter
CORRUPTION IN KRIDL
TALE OF EX MD, CK SHIVANNA
Few months back, Chikkana Goudar, a MLA who was the Chairman of the KRIDL (KLAC) had tendered his resignation. The reason - the Ex-MD of the KRIDL was not co-operating with him. The government till date has not accepted the resignation. In fact, Chikkana Goudar had called a press conference to announce his resignation from Chairman’s post and to accuse the Ex-MD C.K.Shivanna of slighting him. It is true that Shivanna had completely ignored the Chairman and functioned as if he is answerable to none on the pretext that he was the personal choice of the Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda.
There is more than that meets the eye in this episode. The feud between Chikkana Goudar and Shivanna was nothing to do with the functioning of the corporation. It was allegedly with regard to sharing of the kickbacks/commissions from purchases and works worth hundreds of crores. It is to be reminded that the previous MD A.K. Singh was honest but his honesty was misused by his subordinates. Once Shivanna took over as the MD, he introduced a percentage rule. He allegedly fixed 0.7 percent to be his share from the release of funds to various works in the Divisions and Sub Divisions. One can imagine the revenue of Shivanna by the fact that more than 640 crores were released by him to the various works. Shivanna got a flat Rs. 4.50 crore from the release of funds, alone! Allegedly, while he had fixed 0.7 percentage for himself, he had fixed 0.3 percentage to the chairman Chikkana Goudar.
How one could accept this low commission and that too when the Chairman enjoys cabinet minister status? In most of the Boards/Corporations, the Chairman will have more ‘income’ than the MDs or the CEOs. But in case of the KRIDL, the opposite has happened. The Chairman insisted that he be given 0.7 percent while Shivanna can have 0.3 percentage! And this allegedly was the crux of the feud between Chairman and MD. Besides, the Ex-MD deliberately ignored to implement many of the directions from the Chairman. Feeling frustrated the Chairman submitted his resignation accusing the Ex-MD of non co-operation. The government is yet to accept the resignation.
Ever since Shivanna stepped in as MD in July last year, not a single work was entrusted to the Corporation during his regime. All the works being executed by the Corporation was procured by the previous MD A.K.Singh through sustained efforts. Being honest to the core, Singh was able to procure works worth 850 crores. And these are the works where Shivanna is said to have made money. Before AK Singh left the corporation, he had released around 200 crores and while releasing the funds, he was not even prepared to take a cup of coffee. And Shivanna had released the remaining 640 crores and allegedly pocketed 0.7 percent kickback. He was busy in making money through every conceivable ways.
For example, while fixing the rates for purchase of cement and steel, there was pro rata commission for him. Shivanna had to be paid at the rate of Rs. one per kg, for purchase of steel. Similarly, every bag of cement fetched him Rs.5. In fact, Rangarajan, one of the three GM was dealing and fixing the prices from his residence and lap top. He too got his share. As a result of the big kickbacks, the cost of steel became prohibitive so much so that the price of local steel with good quality was less than the procurement price. The ADs - DDs wanted purchasing power for steel and cement at their level itself so that they could procure better quality of steel and cement at much lower rate than the rates fixed by Shivanna and Rangarajan.
This apart, Shivanna allegedly got ‘Quarterly Mamool’ from the DDs and ADs through the six JDs. The JDs had to collect the monthly mamool from their jurisdictional ADs and DDs respectively. This collection which reached Rs 50 lakh was supposed to be collected by Shivanna.
SHIVANNA APPLIED DIFFERENT YARDSTICKS TO
DIFFERENT PLAYERS DEPENDING ON THE ‘PURSE’.
Take the case of Kishore, an AD who was trapped by the Lokayukta in Shimoga. Later he was made in charge DD in Mandya! As Shivanna could not get as much he wanted, he simply posted him as DD (Tech) in JD Bangalore. The reason - Kishore was trapped by the Lokayukta.
While this is the treatment meted out to Kishore on the Lokayukta excuse, Shivanna applied an entirely different yardstick in the case of K.R.Ramesh. He was deputed in the BBMP while he was trapped by the Lokayukta. He was repatriated to the Corporation, but, he was again posted to BBMP. After getting a hefty donation, Shivanna posted him as AD, Bangalore Rural, which is a fertile post. In the case of KR Ramesh, Shivanna simply ignored the Lokayukta trap! Interestingly, KR Ramesh is a diploma holder in automobiles and as such he should have been made to work in vehicle maintenance section.
The case of Mobeen, a TFC is more interesting. He too was raided by the Lokayukta in Gulbarga. Shivanna after extracting his pound of flesh made Mobeen in charge AD in Raichur by opening another Sub Division, Raichur-II to accommodate him. Later Shivanna suspended the AD of Raichur-I Sub Division and gave the charge of this post to Mobeen! Interestingly, Mobeen did not have the seniority to be eligible to get in charge AD post as there were 38 TFCs who were senior to him!
Of course, Shivanna used the services of an AD B.H.Gurumurthy in all his collection business.
Gurumurthy was in BBMP, when the Chairman shifted him to Karwar as AD. But Shivanna brought him back to Bangalore so that he could act as his legman. For some time Shivanna used the services of Gurumurthy and then left him.
While Shivanna adopted double standards in respect of ‘Lokayukta guests’ depending on the payments, Shivanna practiced some sort of arm twisting in respect of few officials. Take the case of K.Appaji, who was the DD of Chamarajanagar. This DD is not in the habit of attending the office for at least 25 days in a month. He is known as ‘absentee DD! Shivanna, who knew the tantrums of Appaji went on Inspection tour to Chamarajanagar. Later he shifted Appaji to the Mysore JD office as DD (Tech). But Appaji was not prepared to work in a dry post. So, he allegedly clinched a big deal with Shivanna. What Shivanna did after clinching the deal with Appaji baffles everybody. Mercara Division was closed and shifted to Mangalore by Shivanna. Now after the deal, Shivanna restarted the Mercara Branch and posted Appaji to this division. This implies that if there is sufficient ‘returns’, Shivanna would not mind closing or opening a Sub Division or a division. These incidents speak volumes about the ‘quality of administration by people like Shivanna!
H. S. SIDDALINGAIAH CASE
SUPERFAST ACTION BY SHIVANNA
H.S.Siddalingaiah was an Accounts Superintendent in Mysore JD office. He had not passed the prescribed Departmental exams for getting the next promotion as Audit Officer. Through his deft manipulation, he was able to get the in charge Audit Officer post. He had filed a Writ in the High Court for a direction to promotion as Audit Officer. But the High Court dismissed his petition stating that unless he passes the prescribed department examinations, he can not claim promotion.
Acting on the High Court Orders, the previous MD AK Singh reverted him back to Accounts Superintendent post by withdrawing all other previous orders.
And then H S.Siddalingaiah gave a petition to the Ex-MD Shivanna, requesting him to place him again as I/C Audit Officer. This petition was given on 7.4.2012, and shockingly, before the ink dried on the petition, Shivanna issued the orders by placing him as I/C Audit Officer!
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