Union Minister Kumaraswamy accuses Hassan district official of paying bribe to stay in office

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has accused Hassan Deputy Commissioner K.S. Latha Kumari of paying a bribe of 75 lakh rupees to remain in her post.

The Allegations

Mr. Kumaraswamy made the claim on Sunday, November 8, 2026, after visiting the Hasanamba temple in Hassan. He read parts of a written script of a purported WhatsApp chat between an unknown person and Shashikiran, who is the personal assistant to the Hassan Deputy Commissioner. According to him, the chat involved seeking permission for three stone crushers. The personal assistant allegedly asked for 60 lakh rupees for the clearance and listed people to share the money with during bargaining. The Minister stated that Excise Minister and Hassan district in-charge Minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda wanted to transfer the Deputy Commissioner, but she allegedly stopped it by paying 75 lakh rupees through Arsikere Tahsildar Santosh. Copies of the chat script were handed out to journalists, and Mr. Kumaraswamy called for a police probe and the seizure of the mobile phone.

Reactions

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended the Deputy Commissioner during his temple visit on the same day, stating she has done good work and that allegations arose because she did not give in to demands. Hassan Deputy Commissioner K.S. Latha Kumari strongly denied all claims and stated she has never done anything illegal. She added that action will be taken if her personal assistant or anyone in his section sent any wrong message, and announced plans to file a complaint with the cyber police regarding the spread of false information.

Context

Allegations of corruption involving political leaders and bureaucrats often lead to high-level inquiries and political friction in state administration. Such disputes frequently emerge through leaked digital messages or documents that spark public debate before official investigations begin.