BENGALURU, 19 AUG

Alleging large-scale corruption in the Bengaluru Amrit Mahotsava housing scheme, former Bengaluru South BJP district president and ex-BBMP ruling party leader NR Ramesh has lodged a formal complaint with the Lokayukta against officials of the civic body’s Welfare Department.

According to Ramesh, corrupt officials violated all legal procedures and transferred a massive sum of Rs 27.50 crore directly into the accounts of 550 ineligible beneficiaries through the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation. 

The funds—meant to support genuine beneficiaries such as the poor, widows, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities—were allegedly diverted by then Assistant Commissioner (Welfare Department) Nagabhushan, who currently serves as Assistant Revenue Officer in Mahadevapura Zone.

BBMP guidelines stipulate that subsidies under the scheme must be released only after due scrutiny of applications, verification of documents, and approval of the eligible lists obtained from zonal offices. However, Ramesh alleged that Nagabhushan ignored all criteria, bypassed procedures, and unilaterally released the funds on 21 August.

“This is a blatant misuse of power and a violation of BBMP rules. Genuine applicants who applied with documents have been deprived, while ineligible individuals have pocketed benefits worth crores,” Ramesh said in his complaint. He further alleged that middlemen colluded with officials to illegally transfer the money.

Calling it a case of corruption, fraud, misuse of authority, and fabrication of records, Ramesh has urged the Lokayukta ADGP and IGP to take stringent legal action against Nagabhushan.