Lokayukta flags 100 legislators, including five ministers for defaulting over asset declaration

Bengaluru: A total of 200 legislators including six ministers, 66 Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and 28 Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) have failed to file the mandatory statement of their assets and liabilities and those of their family members, for the financial year 2024-25, the Karnataka Lokayukta said in a release.

The Lokayukta, acting under the mandate of Section 22(1) and (2) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, released the list of defaulters after the statutory deadline of June 30 passed without compliance. The rule requires all members of the legislature, defined as public servants under the Act, to submit their asset declarations annually to ensure transparency in public life.

The list of defaulting MLAs cuts across party lines, including members from the ruling Congress, as well as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS). The 66 defaulting legislators include several prominent names who are now under scrutiny for violating the basic tenet of political accountability.

Ministers who defaulted:

K H Muniyappa: Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs

Dinesh Gundu Rao: Minister of Health and Family Welfare

Zameer Ahmed Khan: Minister for Housing, Works and Minorities

Rahim Khan: Minister of Hajj, Municipal Administration

K Venkatesh: Minister of Animal Husbandry and Sericulture

Defaulting MLAs List:

Congress: K N Rajanna, Lakshmana Savadi, Khaneez Fatima, Vinaya Kulkarni, B K Sangameshwar, Nayana Motamma, C P Yogeshwar, and C Puttarangashetty.

BJP: B Suresh Gowda and K Gopalaiah.

JDS: H D Revanna.

KRPP: G Janardhana Reddy.