A court in Bengaluru has ordered the registration of a first information report (FIR) against Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara and Deputy Commissioner Shubha Kalyan over an alleged ₹500 bet placed during a kabaddi tournament held in Tumakuru last year. The direction came from the 42nd Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, KN Shivakumar, following a private complaint filed by H. R. Nagabhushan.

The magistrate noted that there appeared to be a prima facie case despite an earlier police decision to dismiss the complaint as baseless and lacking evidence. The court observed that the Kodigehalli Police Station had not properly reviewed available reports or summoned documents and evidence from the complainant before rejecting the allegations. Consequently, it directed the police to register the FIR and carry out a detailed investigation.

The incident centers on remarks made by Parameshwara during a state-level pre-university kabaddi competition. According to reports, the minister and Deputy Commissioner Kalyan wagered ₹500 on the outcome of a match, backing teams from Vijayapura and Dakshina Kannada districts, respectively. When the Dakshina Kannada team won, Parameshwara publicly acknowledged his loss during the prize distribution ceremony, saying, "I lost ₹500. I had placed a bet with the Deputy Commissioner that the Vijayapura team would win." While the comment was described by some as lighthearted, it drew criticism from others concerned about the propriety of such statements by a senior government official.

The court emphasized that a prior sanction from the government was unnecessary since the alleged offence did not relate to the official duties of either Parameshwara or Kalyan. The police in Kodigehalli have now been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged bet and reporting their findings.

The case is scheduled for further hearing on April 30, 2026. Meanwhile, the matter has ignited debate over the appropriateness and legality of bet-related remarks made by public officials during official events. Some view the statement as a casual remark with no criminal intent, while others argue it could be construed as endorsing betting practices that may contravene legal and ethical standards.