Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Aug 2: CM B S Yediyurappa has taken one more stand against former CM Siddaramaiah. The government is planning to dissolve the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) formed by Siddaramaiah government.

The BJP government is thinking of giving more powers to Lokayukta as before and stall the functioning of ACB. Lokayukta is a semi-judicial organization. It had the power to register complaint under Anti-corruption Act. It also had the police department to conduct inquiry of the complaints received.

B S Yediyurappa (left) and Siddaramaiah

There were accusations during the earlier regime that the ACB is formed to reduce the power of Lokayukta and make it weak. BJP, which was in the opposition then had vociferously protested the decision of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of establishing ACB. It has promised in its election manifesto that it will give more powers to Lokayukta, if it attains power.

Now the efforts to fulfill the promise made during the election are on. However, as per sources, this decision will not be unilateral or sudden but will be decided after the extension of the cabinet and discussions on the subject.

The Congress government had established ACB in March 2016 to conduct inquiry under the Anti- corruption Act, leaving Lokayukta to work only under the purview of Lokayukta act. ACB has to seek prior permission before conducting inquiry against any official who is found to have involved in corruption. This rule was the reason for the rage of the opposition parties.