Eshwar Khandre

| Photo Credit: File photo

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Eshwar Khandre has constituted a three-member committee, headed by an officer of the rank of Superintending Engineer, to inquire into the veracity of corruption allegations made by Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai against two engineers of the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) office in Mangaluru.In a letter to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Mr. Rai alleged that the two KRIDL engineers were collecting an additional 7% as “KRIDL charges” from contractors executing KRIDL works, claiming that the amount had to be paid every month to the district in-charge Minister and the Minister in charge of KRIDL. Mr. Rai said he had received complaints from contractors in this regard. Contractors had also complained that they were harassed by the two officials if they questioned the demand, he stated.Responding to the allegations, Mr. Khandre said that if any official of the department is found collecting money in the name of paying Ministers, disciplinary action would be taken against them. In a letter addressed to the RDPR Secretary on Tuesday, Mr. Khandre directed the three-member committee to inquire into the allegations and submit its report within seven days, along with recommendations for necessary disciplinary action if the charges are found to be true.Reacting to the allegations, District In-charge Minister U.T. Khader told reporters in Mangaluru on Tuesday that no one had brought the matter to his notice. The inquiry into the allegations made by the MLA would bring out the facts, he said.In a statement, KRIDL Managing Director M.B. Rajesh Gowda said the agency executes works by collecting a 3% service charge from government departments. It also deducts 7% as job savings from the contractor’s 10% profit margin. These amounts are remitted to the KRIDL account and are used to meet employee salaries and other organisational expenses.Referring to the allegations made by the MLA, the KRIDL Managing Director said: “Our officers were executing the works by deducting 3% service charge and 7% job savings and remitting the same to the KRIDL account.” Published - September 01, 2026 08:58 pm IST