Overview
- At a Praja Seva Andolana public‑grievance meeting in Sakleshpur on Saturday, Excise Minister K. M. Shivalinge Gowda said people could 'offer' money to officials 'respectfully' and called it their 'dharma'.
- A video of the exchange circulated widely on social media and prompted immediate objections from attendees who said the remark normalised tipping or bribery.
- The minister later defended and clarified that he did not mean to encourage extortion and that he meant honest officials should be shown respect.
- Opposition leaders including BJP MLC C. T. Ravi demanded that the minister withdraw the remark and apologise, citing a clash with Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar's earlier call to report even small bribe demands.
- The district deputy commissioner intervened to pacify the meeting and there is no public record of formal disciplinary action so far, leaving the issue to play out as political pressure and reputational risk for the government.