I-T Department Raids Energy Minister George’s Office Over Smart Meter Contracts: Sources

Quick Summary

• The Income Tax Department conducted search operations at the office of Karnataka’s Energy Minister K.J. George at Embassy Golf Links, domlur, Bengaluru.
• Minister K.J. George is currently in Japan on an official visit adn was unavailable for comments during the searches.
• Offices of seven contractors linked to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company’s (Bescom) procurement of smart meters were also searched in bengaluru and Davanagere.
• There has been no official statement from the income Tax Department regarding these searches or their connection to smart meter procurement.
• Opposition BJP alleged a ₹7,500-crore scam related to smart meter procurement with claims of contract irregularities leading to cost increases. These allegations have been denied by the Energy Department and K.J. George.
• Three BJP MLAs-C.N. Ashwath Narayan, S.R. Vishwanath, and Dheeraj muniraj-filed a complaint with Lokayukta police in April 2025 concerning these allegations and recently moved a Private Complaint Report (PCR) citing delay by Lokayukta Police in filing an FIR.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding Bescom’s smart meter procurement highlights concerns about transparency and accountability within public utilities contracting processes. While search operations appear extensive-covering both government officials’ offices and contractors-it remains unclear whether they substantiate allegations raised by opposition leaders or are connected directly to the complaints filed earlier.

The disagreement between BJP’s accusations of a ₹7,500-crore “scam” and denials from K.J. George’s Energy Department points toward politicized contention within Karnataka’s administrative landscape as state leadership defends its integrity amidst scrutiny during high-value public projects.

Irrespective of political affiliations, bolstering mechanisms for timely investigations-such as improving frameworks utilized by Lokayukta police-is crucial for restoring confidence among taxpayers when handling suspected corruption cases involving critical departments like energy management.

Published July 30, 2025 – Link: Read more