BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his condolences on Thursday following the death of Kempanna, who served as the president of the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association. Kempanna was instrumental in exposing the alleged 40 percent commission scam that gained significant national attention during the previous BJP administration. In a post on X, Siddaramaiah stated, “I am saddened by the passing of Kempanna, who brought to light the headline-grabbing 40% commission issue during the prior government and advocated against corruption in contract works.”
In 2023, the Congress-led government in Karnataka initiated a judicial investigation into claims that contractors were coerced into paying a 40 percent commission for state projects under the previous administration led by Basavaraj Bommai. These allegations were largely based on Kempanna’s assertions regarding corruption in public contracts. A committee chaired by retired High Court judge Nagamohan Das was established to probe these claims, with the Public Works Department instructing the committee to thoroughly review all pertinent sites and documentation, and to submit a comprehensive report within 30 days. Relevant officials were also required to provide necessary documents and fully cooperate during site inspections.
The controversy over the 40 percent commission first emerged in April 2022, following the suicide of contractor Santosh Patil from Belagavi, who alleged in his suicide note that BJP leader and former minister K S Eshwarappa demanded a 40 percent commission for a government project. In 2021, Kempanna had previously written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to state that contractors were being compelled to pay such commissions for public projects. This issue became a significant focus of the Congress’s campaign against the BJP during the Karnataka elections. Siddaramaiah also met with members of the Contractors’ Association, assuring them of his government’s commitment to abolishing the commission practice and combating corruption in contract work.
