Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has been accused of possessing an expensive wristwatch, has received a respite as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) will hold a preliminary inquiry into the complaint before filing the First Information Report (FIR).
Mr Nataraj Sharma, a city-based advocate, had last Saturday, filed a plaint against the CM for possessing a watch worth Rs 60-70 lakhs and had demanded a probe. This complaint has put the newly constituted ACB in a fix over filing the FIR against the CM.
Sources told Deccan Chronicle that ACB officials will hold a preliminary inquiry into Mr Sharma's complaint to see if it is genuine before proceeding further. "We cannot accept all cases against people who are in the public domain, blindly. There is no bar on receiving such complaints at police stations but it they need to be vetted in consultation with the top brass before filing an FIR. If needed, courts can be consulted on this matter".
Agreeing with this view, former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde said the concept of holding a preliminary inquiry started after a few people filed complaints against former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa.
At that time, the high court had remarked that when complaints of such nature against people in high places are received, the officers concerned have to examine them before filing the FIR. Hitherto, the Lokayukta Police used to file FIRs after receipt of complaints, conduct the investigation and then consult the competent authority at the time of filing the chargesheet.
If ACB officials feel the complaint is genuine, they have to recommend to the law minister to place the subject before the Cabinet for further course of action. The Cabinet can discuss the issue and give its opinion on whether to proceed further or not.
"There is no meaning in this as no council of ministers headed by the chief minister, will give permission in such a case. This is nothing but a tactic to derail the probe," Justice Hegde said.
