Hassan: Union minister H D Kumaraswamy has alleged a bribe demand of ₹60 lakh to ₹75 lakh in connection with the clearance of files related to three stone crushers in Hassan district. He cited purported WhatsApp conversations linked to Shashikiran, personal assistant to Deputy Commissioner K S Lathakumari.
Releasing extracts of the alleged chats, Kumaraswamy claimed they contained references to financial transactions, intermediaries and an alleged payment of ₹15 lakh in April. He also pointed to messages purportedly referring to Minister Shivalinge Gowda’s role in the DC’s transfer and a final settlement of ₹75 lakh.
Kumaraswamy said an unidentified source had provided the conversations to him. Alleging that such practices were not confined to Hassan, he demanded that the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG-IGP) investigate the authenticity of the chats.
Rejecting the allegations, Lathakumari termed the WhatsApp conversations and claims false. She said she would file a formal complaint to establish their authenticity and take up the matter with the state chief secretary.
The DC also questioned why Kumaraswamy had chosen to hold a press conference instead of submitting a formal complaint to the authorities.
The allegations remain unverified, and the authenticity of the purported chats has not been independently established.