Bengaluru: “Hang your rate list in front of the office so the public knows what to pay,” thundered Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda as he launched a scathing attack on officials during a surprise inspection at the Bengaluru Urban Collector’s (Deputy Commissioner) office. His unannounced visit turned the spotlight on alleged rampant corruption, absenteeism, and public harassment inside one of the city’s busiest government offices.
The minister’s biting remark came after observing delays in service, missing senior officials, and receiving repeated complaints from citizens. Furious with the systemic bribery, Byre Gowda demanded to know the “running rates” officers allegedly charge the public for basic government services. “Why not just put up a rate card at the entrance?” he asked, mocking the depth of the rot in the office.
During the inspection, senior officer Apoorva Bidari (KAS officer) was notably absent, prompting the minister to question the attendance register and suspect it had been manipulated. Officials reportedly stammered under questioning as the minister called out inefficiencies in the scanning section and documentation process.
The public, many of whom were present at the DC office during the raid, supported the minister’s allegations. Several claimed they were routinely asked for bribes ranging from thousands to lakhs of rupees for basic services like land approvals. “You can’t get anything done here without greasing palms,” one frustrated visitor said.
Minister Byre Gowda further alleged that officials had turned the office into a den of corruption, exploiting the poor and vulnerable. “You ask a handicapped person to pay ₹50 lakh to clear five acres of land. This is daylight robbery,” he fumed.
This isn’t the first time Byre Gowda has made headlines for confronting bureaucratic inefficiency. He had previously pulled up officials in Maddur, Kudligi, and Ballari for similar misconduct. Following the raid, he instructed the DC to submit an immediate report on the lapses and warned that failure to take action would result in direct departmental intervention.
“The Bengaluru South Taluk office has become a hub of complaints. From public to officials, everyone has voiced concern. I won’t tolerate such conduct anymore,” he concluded.
