Bengaluru: A purported recommendation letter in the name of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking the transfer of an officer has sparked a political controversy in Karnataka, with the Congress alleging that a forged document is being circulated to defame the CM.
The issue gained traction on social media after BJP leaders flagged the alleged transfer recommendation amid ongoing political sparring over irregularities in the Excise Department. The Congress, however, has claimed that the letter is fabricated.
MLC Ramesh Babu lodged a complaint with the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner against BJP MLA Sunil Kumar and MLC Ravikumar, accusing them of circulating a forged document to level corruption charges against the chief minister.
In his complaint, Ramesh Babu alleged that a fake transfer letter dated 2024 — without a proper reference number or official markings — had been created and widely shared on social media to spread misinformation and tarnish Siddaramaiah’s reputation.
Calling the act a “serious offence,” he contended that forging government documents and circulating them as genuine amounts to criminal misconduct under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. He further alleged that such actions by elected representatives undermine democratic values and disturb public peace.
The Congress leader has sought immediate registration of an FIR, forensic examination of the document, identification of the original source of circulation, and steps to prevent further dissemination of the alleged fake letter.
There was no immediate response from the BJP leaders named in the complaint.