BBMP Commissioner apologises to Mayor

BANGALORE: The ripple created among Councilors and MLAs after Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Siddaiah registered a case with Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) with regard to misappropriation of funds, has surfaced.It is said that the Commissioner on Friday apologised to Mayor Sharadamma for handing over the probe to BMTF in her absence.Sources from BBMP said that on Thursday in a meeting held at Transport Minister R Ashok’s residence with BBMP Councillors, MLAs along with Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Party leaders, Ashok instructed the Mayor to clarify the matter with the Commissioner.With his instruction,the Mayor who called for a meeting on Friday, questioned the Commissioner, who reportedly appologised to the Mayor and said that he should not have taken the action without her consent.Sharadamma told The New Indian Express that the matter will be discussed further in the council.When asked about the parallel committee they are planning to constitute to probe into misappropriation of funds, the mayor said it will be finalised in the council. However, sources informed that they are seeking legal department opinion on setting up parallel committee when the matter is with BMTF.It can be recalled that BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah had filed a case with BMTF regarding alleged irregularities i n ward-level works involving Rs 1,500 crore since 2008 at three Assembly constituencies: Malleswaram, Rajarajeshwarinagar and Gandhinagar Assembly.