BJP and JD(S) MLAs throughout an in a single day dharna on the Vidhana Soudha demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur in Bengaluru on February 3, 2026
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association
The BJP and the JD(S) MLAs started an in a single day sleep-in protest on Tuesday contained in the Vidhana Soudha demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur over the alleged corruption scandal in his division.
Earlier within the day, Chief of Opposition R. Ashok alleged that there was corruption to the tune of ₹6,000 crore within the division, referring to a letter by Guruswamy, president, Karnataka Wine Retailers’ Affiliation, an Excise official being trapped by the Lokayukta police lately, and a purported audio dialog between an Excise official and a lawyer.
Nevertheless, the federal government pushed again and even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah mentioned there was no want for the Minister to resign based mostly on mere allegations.
BJP and JD(S) MLAs throughout an in a single day dharna on the Vidhana Soudha demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
| Photograph Credit score:
particular association
Mr. Thimmapur mentioned that a number of former Excise Ministers additionally confronted allegations of corruption they usually have been typically made by vested pursuits. He claimed that he had introduced in a number of reforms within the division to herald transparency, and denied allegations of corruption. He tried to distance himself from the allegations and claimed that some officers have been within the flawed they usually had tried to misuse his identify, referring to the audio clip in query. He mentioned the officer was suspended.
Audio tape
Mr. Ashok learn out the transcript of an audio recording of a dialog between Excise Joint Commissioner Nagarajappa and a lawyer named Ramesh, in which there’s a requirement for ₹18 lakh for establishing a brand new wine retailer. “The audio says that bribes shall be handed on to Mr. Thimmapur and his son Vinay. It’s mentioned that to cut back the bribe, one has to talk on to the Minister,” Mr. Ashok mentioned.
The reference to the a part of the audio wherein a senior Excise official purportedly suggests to the applicant to fulfill the Chief Minister or his son to get a brand new liquor merchandising licence, created a flutter within the Meeting.
A criticism on this regard had additionally been filed earlier than the Lokayukta and an Excise Division official had even made an announcement on the corruption within the division earlier than the Lokayukta, Mr. Ashok identified. He puzzled why the audio recording was not despatched to the FSL to confirm the authenticity.
He additionally alleged that the bribes collected have been discovering its approach to fund elections in different States. He mentioned the Congress authorities was obliged to ship cash to Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Wait until probe
Senior Minister Ok.H. Muniyappa steered that because the case was underneath investigation by the Lokayukta, demanding resignation of the Minister at this stage was unfair. “Let the investigation be accomplished and based mostly on the findings, the subsequent plan of action shall be taken,” he mentioned.
Mr. Thimmapur took objection and mentioned there was no case in opposition to him and the case in Lokayukta solely pertained to officers.
A number of Ministers together with Priyank Kharge, Dinesh Gundu Rao and Sharan Prakash Patil defended Mr. Thimmapur and identified allegations of corruption throughout the BJP regime and situations when the Ministers didn’t resign.
The BJP members identified situations of Ministers Nagesh and Ok.S. Eshwarappa resigning over corruption allegations.
Printed – February 03, 2026 09:58 pm IST
