“KEONICS corruption: How chairman Priyank Kharge blamed contractors & outgoing govt, denied graft charges against MD who was later suspended”, Opindia, November 8, 2023:

“The Karnataka government has suspended the managing director of Karnataka Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KEONICS) a day after he was accused of demanding 10 to 12 per cent in bribe in exchange for clearing bills amounting to about Rs 300 crores. The accusation was made the president of KEONICS contractor’s association Vasant Bangera against the MD, Sangappa, an IAS officer.

Interestingly, Sangappa’s suspension comes despite Karnataka Minister and KEONICS chairman Priyank Kharge reportedly denying the allegations of corruption in the state-owned enterprise. On 7th November, Kharge reportedly said that the accusation of 12 per cent bribe in exchange of clearing bills for the work done was baseless.

Kharge shifted the blame on the previous BJP government saying, “As per my knowledge, there is no such bribery case that happened in KEONICS during the rule of our government. It is true that there was widespread corruption and irregularities in KEONICS in the past four years and the Auditor General of India has objected to it. In my two reviews, I have found irregularities to the tune of over ₹250 crore…..”

Read the full article at Opindia.com