Karnataka CMO row: BJP's Sunil Kumar demands forensic probe into 'fake' transfer note

BENGALURU: V Sunil Kumar has called for a forensic investigation into an allegedly forged document purportedly linked to the Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), raising concerns about the integrity and functioning of the administration.

The demand follows the registration of a police case on Friday after the CMO lodged a complaint regarding the circulation of a fake note on social media. The document falsely claimed that a district health and family welfare officer in Mandya had been appointed as the deputy commissioner of excise in Mysuru, according to news agency PTI.


The case has been registered against an unidentified individual at the Vidhana Soudha police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to forgery and the use of forged documents.

The CMO has alleged that the act was carried out with malicious intent to defame the chief minister and the Congress-led government in the state.

In a post on X on Saturday, Kumar questioned the functioning of the office, stating, "If the letter bearing the Chief Minister's signature itself is fake, should we not reflect on how the Chief Minister's Office is functioning?"

The V Sunil Kumar, who represents Karkala, said the incident raises serious concerns about administrative oversight.

"This clearly shows that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is now focussed only on the chair and not on the functioning of his office," he alleged.

Calling for a forensic examination, Kumar said, "If this letter is fake, then the authenticity of the signature on it must also be established. Therefore, the signature should be subjected to examination by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to determine whether it is genuine or forged. It would not be surprising if this turns out to be a major 'letterhead' scam operating within the Chief Minister's Office."

He further questioned how the document came to light.

"Why did the Chief Minister sign a letter without a date? Who were the persons who got the letter signed? What benefit did they derive from it? All these aspects should come out through an investigation. Otherwise, the investigation ordered by Siddaramaiah would appear to be a 'kill the messenger' tactic," he said.

Stating that he had cited the letter believing it to be genuine, Kumar added, "Like Siddaramaiah, I too am a person in public life -- a responsible MLA in the opposition. Believing the letter I received to be genuine, I cited it as an example of administrative lapses in the government."

He also maintained that those describing the letter as fake must ensure a comprehensive probe.

"Those who argue that the letter is fake also bear some responsibility, because it carries the signature of the Chief Minister of the state. Before declaring the letter itself as fake, there should also be an investigation into the alleged 'letterhead' scam," Kumar added.

Responding to the controversy on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the creation and circulation of the fake note a serious and condemnable offence. He urged social media users to verify information before sharing it, cautioning that spreading unverified content in the age of Photoshop or artificial intelligence (AI) could also constitute a crime.