Bengaluru, Nov. 10 -- Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday, November 9, accused the Karnataka government of attempting to shield officials facing corruption allegations in connection with the Hassan Deputy Commissioner's office.

Reacting to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's reported clean chit to those concerned, Kumaraswamy said the emergence of WhatsApp chat records allegedly discussing bribery should have prompted an investigation rather than an immediate dismissal of the allegations.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru, he recalled that Shivakumar had earlier declared that the government would not tolerate even a Rs 10 bribe and had encouraged people to report officials demanding money. However, the Chief Minister had not ordered an...