A dispute over Bengaluru’s garbage collection tender has reached the High Court of Karnataka after a contractor alleged that senior officials demanded a bribe to finalise the contract.
SN Balasubramaniam, who was declared the lowest bidder (L1) for the CV Raman Nagar package under the July 2025 tender notification, filed a petition making serious allegations against Karee Gowda, Chief Executive Officer of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd.
Bidder alleges demand for 15 per cent payment
According to the petition, the bidder claimed that on March 10, 2026, he was told that unless certain “formalities and obligations” were fulfilled, the tender would not be finalised. He alleged that a demand was made for 15 per cent of the quoted contract value for seven years.
The petition further claimed that the amount was allegedly meant for different authorities, including board members, officials and the government.
State rejects allegations
When the matter came before Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum, Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty said the allegations were baseless.
The state submitted a memo stating that on the day the alleged demand was made, Karee Gowda was in Delhi. Air tickets and boarding passes were reportedly produced before the court.
Fresh tender also challenged
The petitioner has also challenged a fresh tender notification issued on March 25, 2026. He sought cancellation of the new process and requested authorities to proceed with the earlier July 2025 tender in which he was declared L1 bidder.
The matter has now been adjourned for further hearing