BENGALURU: Senior IAS officer KA Dayananda, Member Secretary of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (KSCBC), has approached the High Grounds Police to file a criminal case against individuals circulating fake figures on WhatsApp, purportedly from the recently concluded socio-educational survey conducted by the commission.
Fake Data Circulates Amid Ongoing Survey
According to KA Dayananda, an IAS officer of 2012 batch, the official survey work is still in progress. Despite assurances of confidentiality, messages claiming to show population figures of various communities in Karnataka have been circulating on WhatsApp groups.
The disputed message, shared from the number 8618891657 in a group named Engineers & Doctors, claimed to present the “2025 Karnataka State Caste Census Report.” The message listed alleged population figures such as:
- Lingayats – 65 lakh
- Vokkaligas – 60 lakh
- Kurubas – 45 lakh
- Scheduled Castes – 40.45 lakh
- Muslims – 60 lakh
- Christians – 12 lakh
- Brahmins – 14 lakh
Other communities – varying numbers
The authenticity of these figures is false, as the KSCBC survey is yet to be completed and all collected data remains confidential.
Legal Action Sought
The commission has cited High Court cases numbered 28665/2025, 28668/2025, 28670/2025, and 28675/2025, where an affidavit was submitted on September 26, 2025, confirming that the survey data would remain confidential and not be disclosed to any individual.
The IAS officer’s letter names the individuals allegedly responsible for spreading the fake figures:
- Shiva, from Chikkamagaluru, who shared the message
- The source number 9972508500, from which Shiva reportedly received the information
The letter requested that a criminal case be registered and a proper investigation be conducted to identify and penalize the culprits.
Authorities Urge Public Caution
Officials have warned citizens not to rely on unofficial messages circulating on WhatsApp or other social media platforms, emphasizing that the final survey results will be officially released by the KSCBC once verified.
