From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi
Belagavi, Jul 1: Refusing to accept the opposition demand for ordering a CBI probe into the alleged bribery scandal in the Karnataka Lokayukta after two hours of heated exchanges, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday declared that the State Government would consider the request only if the Lokayukta itself makes such a demand.
Replying to a two-hour-long debate on the issue in the Belagavi Suvarna Soudha, the Chief Minister made it clear that the investigation into corruption charges could not be handed over to the CBI unless the Lokayukta itself makes such a request to the Government under section 15 (3) of the Lokayukta Act.
The State Government or the House has no powers to order a CBI probe into alleged corruption charges in the Lokayukta, the Chief Minister declared.
The State Government has no powers to order the probe into bribery scandal in the Lokayukta suo moto unless the latter recommends to the State Government, Siddaramaiah assergted.
He said the State Government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by IPS officer Kamal Pant, ADGP, to conduct the probe.
Govt Committed to Strengthen Lokayukta
“We can wait till the SIT submits its report,” Siddaramaiah said adding that the Government was seriously considering strengthening the Lokayukta Act by amending it after consultations with legal experts.
"The State Government is not protecting anybody involved in corruption,” he said.
Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said the High Court of Karnataka too was seized the matter. "We have to tread on the issue cautiously," he said.
Earlier, BJP and JD(S) members said argued that impartial probe into corruption charges would be possible only through the CBI.
Leader of the Opposition JagadishShettar asked the State Government to take steps to file FIRs against Ashwin Rao, son of LokayuktaBhaskar Rao and other officials, who were allegedly involved in the scandal.
With advocates across the State staging protests seeking resignation of Justice Rao, the Lokayukta should have resigned by this time to uphold the agency’s reputation, Shettarsaid.
Shettar, CT Ravi, K G Bopaiah (all BJP), Ramesh Kumar (Congress), Y S V Datta of JD(S) demanded suitable amendments to the 1984 Act, which was framed during the Ramakrishna Hegde regime. It was unfortunate that the anti-corruption body was mired with corruption and the only solution to resurrect the image of this institution was to refer the whole episode to the CBI for investigation, he said,
Registering their unhappiness at the State Government’s reply, BJP members staged a walk out from the House.
HDK offers to name officers who paid bribes
JD(S) floor leader H D Kumaraswamy, who read out Lokayukta SP Sonia Narang’s letter to the Registrar of Lokayukta, also demanded the CBI probe. He alleged that several senior IAS officers had given money to avoid to some officers working in the Lokayukta institution to avoid raid.
He said he had got a list of those officers who were alleged to have paid money to escape the raid. Some officers, who had been raided by Lokayukta sleuths, had allegedly paid money to file 'B' reports.
It was surprising that the State government did not act upon the letter written by Lokayukta SP Sonia Narang to the Registrar seeking an inquiry into charges of corruption against some officers following a complainant by an engineer of zilla panchayat.
Siddaramaiah, who intervened said, police officers deputed to Lokayukta do not work under the State Government. Ms Sonia had written letter to the Registrar and not to the State Government, he explained.
Kumaraswamy said theState Government cannot remain silent contending that the institution was autonomous because of the State-wide protests seeking removal of Lokayukta. The people had cast aspersions on the head of the institution too. The need of the hour was to refer the whole matter to the CBI for investigation to cleanse the institution.
Former Speaker and senior Congress leader, K Ramesh Kumar urged Kumaraswamy to disclose the names of those senior IAS officers who had allegedly paid money to avoid raids on their houses/offices, so that the Chief Minister could take action against them. Failing to disclose the names would give room for suspicion on the JD(S) leader.
Riyaz, Nagaraj were key players: HDK
Kumaraswamy alleged that Nagaraj, who works as private secretary to revenue minister Srinivasa Prasad and Riyaz, a PRO in the Lokayukta office were giving the list of senior officers to some agents to threaten them and collect money.
Another person, Rajashekar working in Bangalore Development Authority, was also working as an agent to touts. "I have my own doubts whether the Special Investigative Team led by ADGP Kamal Pant will be able to conduct an impartial inquiry and give a true report," he said.
Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa advised Kumaraswamy to give a list of senior IAS officers to the Chief Miniser so that he could get the inquiry done before taking action. It would be inappropriate to disclose the names in the House since the latter cannot defend themselves in the House.
The State Government would hush-up the case if it was not handed over to the CBI, he claimed.