Shobha Karandlaje alleges ‘bidding politics’ behind Pavan Nejjuru suspension, seeks answers from Karnataka government
Bengaluru: Union Minister and senior BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje has launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka government, alleging that IPS officer Pavan Nejjuru was made a “sacrificial victim” due to an alleged bidding culture patronised by minister Zameer Ahmed Khan.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan, on Saturday, Karandlaje accused the Congress-led government of lying to the public and destroying the morale of honest officers.
Referring to the Ballari clash incident, Karandlaje said live visuals clearly showed SP Pavan Nejjuru present at the spot, contradicting the government’s claims. “The government is deliberately misleading people. What exactly were you trying to do in Ballari, Zameer Ahmed Khan? Stop making officers scapegoats to save political goons,” she charged.
Raising serious questions over Nejjuru’s suspension and the reported suicide attempt, Karandlaje demanded clarity from the state government. “Why was SP Pavan Nejjuru suspended? What is the truth behind the alleged suicide attempt? What is written in his death note?” she asked, insisting that the contents of the death note be made public.
She alleged that the government was suppressing crucial facts and shielding influential people named in the note. The Union Minister also questioned the Chief Minister’s conduct, asking whether it was appropriate for him to be seen sitting with an accused person against whom an FIR had been registered.
“If the Chief Minister himself sits with accused persons, where will the victims and honest officers seek justice?” she asked. Karandlaje further alleged rampant corruption in appointments, transfers and promotions within the state administration.
“Without bribery, there are no transfers. Without bribery, there are no promotions. Without bribery, there are no appointments. This is the situation the Congress government has created,” she said, claiming that the same pattern exists not just in Bengaluru but across the state.
She accused the government of running a systematic ‘bidding’ process for key posts, comparing it to 11-month house rental agreements. “Officers are forced to pay to retain posts. If someone offers more money, the existing officer is replaced. This culture has broken the moral strength of police, revenue and other departments,” she alleged.
Highlighting public frustration, Karandlaje said both citizens and officials were exhausted by corruption and political interference. She questioned the Chief Minister on how often he had convened meetings with officers to hear their grievances or held district-level reviews. “Instead of listening to officers, you are pushing them into distress,” she said.
Referring again to Pavan Nejjuru’s case, Karandlaje asserted that justice must be delivered. “Today it is Pavan Nejjuru. Tomorrow it could be someone else. Whenever Congress comes to power, officers are the ones who suffer,” she alleged, demanding an impartial review of the suspension and full transparency in the case.
She warned that continued suppression of facts would further erode public trust in governance and law enforcement, and reiterated her demand for the immediate disclosure of the death note and accountability at the highest political level.
