SOUTH
The expenditure of Karnataka ministers has taken several turns into the bizarre, and not even the cars have been spared. While roads in Karnataka may not be the best in the world, the expenditure on service of MLA cars makes it seem like they have taken to wandering in several war zones.
Image credit: Guruprasath R
In bills accessed by Suvarna News, the costs are racked sky high. Some ministers have produced up to three bills in one day. Others have gotten their cars services thrice in one month. Still others have purchased car accessories twice in a month. There are even some ministers who have spent more than two lakh rupees for repairs.
Interestingly, though the cars are officially assigned to ministers, the bills of their officers are costlier than that of the ministers. All the bills have been sanctioned without any hassles or any kind cross checking
Kimmane Ratnakar, the MLA from Thirthahalli and former Minister for Primary and Secondary education, for example, has changed his tyres five times in two years at an average cost of ₹28,000 each time.
In the space of ten days, from 18 July 2014 to 28 July 2014, the tyres were changed twice. But the MLA beat his own record in car repairs when he changed his tyres on 5 December 2014 (six months after the last change) and then claimed more 'car repairs' worth ₹9590 the very next day.
H Anjaneya, MLA from Holalkere and Minister for Social Welfare, did some work on his car on 6 March 2014. He then submitted ₹43,000 worth of car repair bills, including a tyre change, 12 days later on 18 March 2014.
Krishna Byre Gowda, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, submitted two car-related expenses, both worth around ₹25,000, within three months of each other.
HS Mahadeva Prasad, Minister for Co-operation and Sugar, fitted accessories worth ₹93,400 on 12 November 2013. A further ₹34,708 was spent on accessories exactly one year later on 12 November 2014 and some ₹23000 worth of further repairs on 10 February 2015.
Twelve ministers have spent more than ₹50,000 in three years on their cars. All on public expense.
As a sample, here is a partial list of those with the highest expenditure: