Posters of "PayCM' with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's photograph surfaced in parts of the city on Wednesday. They were similar to electronic wallet Paytm. Bommai's face figures in the middle of the QR code with the message "40 % accepted here". The development comes in the midst of an aggressive campaign against the state government by Congress, which charged it with corruption in awarding public contracts and government recruitment.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has filed complaint with Central division police of Bengaluru regarding these poster, following which three FIRs against unkown people have been registered. Cases have been registered under Karnataka Open Places Disfigurement Act and other relevant sections of IPC.
The contractors' body had recently levelled bribery charges that contractors had to pay 40 per cent commission to get public works contracts, a charge strongly denied by the government.
Soon after the matter came to the notice of the authorities, these posters in public places were removed. The BJP alleged that this was the handiwork of Congress.
"It's undoubtedly the handiwork of the Congress. Already Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has ordered an investigation and booked cases against those involved in this mischief," BJP state media cell in charge Karunakara Khasle said.
He added that the BJP state unit has also appealed to the CM to expose those who were behind this act. Khasle dared the Congress to submit proof of corruption if they have or else apologise to the government.
Meanwhile, sources in the Congress, requesting anonymity, said that some party workers might be behind the "poster campaign".
