Leaked audio clip got much hype rather than the corruption charge I made, says B.R. Patil

Aland MLA and Deputy Chairman of the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission B.R. Patil, who spoke on bribery in the allotment of houses under Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Limited in a phone conversation with Housing and Minority Welfare Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan’s private secretary Sarfaraz Khan, has clarified that the voice in the audio clip of the conversation is his.

“It is my voice in the audio clip but, I do not know who leaked it. I have only spoken the truth and truth ultimately wins,” he maintained.

Speaking to media persons at his residence in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Mr. Patil said that neither Chief Minister Siddaramaiah nor Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have spoken to him on this yet.

Mr. Patil, who was, in fact, showed reluctance to speak about the issue, stated that the leaked audio clip got much hype rather than the corruption charge against house allotment that he discussed with Mr. Sarfaraz Khan.

“Recently, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda also spoke about bribes and corruption in some departments during his surprise visit to an office in Bengaluru South taluk. He asked officials to put up a board showing the ‘running rate’ fixed for each case to get approval. Similarly, I too made the charge of bribery for allotment of houses under various housing scheme. Moreover, I did not take any name in the conversation. I don’t know why I was in the eye of a storm,” he said.

Mr. Patil said that the purpose of his calling Mr. Sarfaraz was to inquire about the ₹17 crore funds released to Moulana Azad School in Aland taluk without bringing it to his notice. Recently, the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB) too sanctioned funds for development works in the same school.

“I am unaware about the funds released through the Minority Welfare Department to Moulana Azad School in my constituency,” he added.

Refuting the allegation made by the former Aland MLA Subhash Guttedar that he [Mr. Patil] is blackmailing the Congress high command through such strategies to get inducted into the Cabinet, Mr. Patil said that if he were to indulge in such dirty politics, he would have not lost elections multiple times.