"Huge Money Laundering Racket Behind RSS": Karnataka Minister's Big Charge

Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge hit out Sunday at the financial opacity of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of financial irregularities and demanding it be brought under constitutional and legal scrutiny.

Kharge, the son of Congress boss Mallikarjun Kharge, claimed the RSS is guilty of money laundering, though he provided no further proof, routing funds via donations, or 'guru dakshina'.

There is a lack of clarity, he argued about the source and final destination of these funds.

"… they (i.e., the RSS) want us to be good citizens and pay our income tax… but they want to remain free (from paying taxes). How is this possible. We will have to question this?" he said.

"Around 2,500 organisations are associated with the RSS. Money is being collected from many countries, including US and UK. Considering this, it can be said there is a huge money laundering racket behind the RSS," Kharge said at a private event in Bengaluru.

"But if we ask about the source of the money, they tell us 'guru dakshina'… but where is this coming from? Who is paying it? And why is RSS not paying tax? When every rupee of others is being accounted for… why is there no accountability for their money and spending?"

Kharge said he would "not give up until till RSS is registered under the Constitution…"

Kharge was responding to remarks by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who said his organisation is, in fact, a 'body of individuals' and therefore did not need to be registered. The Congress leader, however, disagreed, and insisted no organisation should be above the law.

"Even the Bangalore Club is a body of individuals… but have they not registered? And are they not paying taxes?" he pointed out and compared the RSS and BJP to a "devil" and its "shadow".

The row between the RSS and Karnataka's Congress government dates back to late-2025, when Kharge wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over reports the right-wing body was commandeering government schools and public grounds for its 'shakhas' or events.

The showdown intensified after a panchayat officer was suspended for attending an RSS program, leading to the BJP slamming the Congress for conducting a "witch hunt".

And tensions peaked further after authorities in Chittapur – Kharge's constituency – denied permission for an RSS march in November, citing threats and unrest.

Karnataka Government vs RSS: What Is The Case

The Karnataka government on October 16 issued an order making prior permission mandatory for any private organisations, associations or a group of persons to use government property or premises for their activities. This was days after Kharge sought the ban on RSS' activities in public places.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah later clarified his government had not imposed any ban on the RSS itself.

"Karnataka Government has not banned RSS... RSS is not mentioned anywhere in the order issued to allow associations to obtain permission in school and college premises," he said.

Nevertheless, the order was challenged in the court following which, the Karnataka High Court put a hold on it.

With input from agencies