Bengaluru, 21 June

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar condemned senior State Congress MLA BR Patil claims about bribery in the allotment of public housing, as the latter confirmed the authenticity of the leaked calls.

"I don't accept it for any reason. I have not understood what he (Patil) has said. The matter has come to the notice of the Chief Minister. He will take necessary action," Shivakumar told reporters here. "When house allotments are happening in a transparent way, how can any beneficiary pay the money? Who makes the decision? It is Panchayats and local bodies. How will this money matter come to the minister in the government?”

Patil, also the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, had alleged bribery in the allotment of houses in a phone conversation with Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan's private secretary Sarfaraz Khan, in a leaked phone conversation.

Speaking to reporters, Patil, the Congress MLA from Aland said, it is his voice in the audio and that he has spoken the truth.

"It is my voice (in the audio). I have spoken....I have said whatever I have to. I don't know what the Chief Minister will do. If he calls me I will go and speak to him," he said. "What is negative? I have spoken the truth."

To a question about whether houses were allotted on giving money, the MLA said, not in all cases, but in five-six panchayats, an allotment was done after giving money.

Asked whether corruption continues in this government, he said, "During all governments it (corruption) has happened, but we (Congress) came to power promising pro-people administration and such things shouldn't happen."

Hitting out at the BJP for targeting the Congress government using his remarks, the MLA said, "The BJP people are not clean. They are the ones who have done dirty things...even today efforts are on to clean (the) administration under Siddaramaiah."

Now the question is -- will any action be taken against the said minister? Will there be a CBI or an independent judicial probe in this matter? Because the allegation hasn't come from the BJP or any activist -- it has been made by a Congress MLA

Shehzad Poonawalla, BJP leader

It is my voice (in the audio)… (But) BJP people are not clean. They are the ones who have done dirty things...even today efforts are on to give a clean administration under Siddaramaiah

BR Patil, Congress Leader

With what intention has he (Patil) spoken? It is not right. I condemn it. The CM and I will speak to him -- it is not right. There is no such thing

DK Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister