Nagamohan Das commission looked into 1,729 files from five departments, probed works running up to ₹3.5 lakh crore

Retired judge-led commission investigates corruption allegations, submits detailed reports, and makes recommendations for government reforms.

The commission headed by retired High Court judge H.N. Nagamohan Das, which submitted a 20,000-page report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the allegations of ‘40% commission’ during the previous BJP regime, looked into 1,729 files from departments encompassing 31 districts of the State.

The commission also submitted a separate report on the alleged irregularities in cost estimation pertaining to the modernisation of the right bank canal of the Narayanapur dam.

According to sources, the panel investigated works completed by contractors between 2019 and 2023. The total cost of these works was pegged at ₹3.5 lakh crore. The files also contained five categories of work — below ₹5 lakh, ₹5 lakh-₹50 lakh, ₹50 lakh-₹1 crore, ₹1 crore-₹50 crore, and ₹50 crore and above.  The commission has found merit in the allegations levelled by the contractors.

The files for the probe were chosen scientifically with the assistance of the Bureau of Statistics and Programme Implementation, sources said. The commission was entrusted to look into irregularities and misappropriation in the departments of Public Works, Minor Irrigation, Major Irrigation, Urban Development, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.

An official privy to the probe told The Hindu that the commission used a three-dimensional approach — file verification, spot inspection, and investigation into accounts. The official said the panel collected grievances from the general public and contractors as part of the probe.

The commission found that many contractors were selectively eliminated from the tender process at the first stage after submission of required documents. This was a flawed approach by the departments, he said.

“We found that the allegations were partly true. The commission also gave a slew of recommendations to the government for streamlining the system,” the official said.