BELAGAVI: The issue of corruption in the institution of Lokayukta echoed in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday with Opposition BJP and Janata Dal (S) demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into it.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who quoted provisions of the Lokayukta Act, contended that the government lacks the power to order CBI inquiry without a recommendation from the registrar of Lokayukta.
The Chief Minister, however, said the government would consult legal experts and explore ways and means to strengthen the anti-corruption body on the lines of Lokpal in order to weed out corruption in administration. “I need not protect anybody and the government is firm on taking stern action against those involved,” he added.
Leader of Opposition, Jagadish Shettar, urged the Chief Minister to announce that amendments to Lokayukta Act would be introduced during the ongoing session and also to set a deadline. Mr Siddaramaiah declined to set any deadline but assured that the amendments would be introduced at the earliest.
Dissatisfied with the reply, BJP members led by Mr Shettar staged a walkout alleging that the government was trying to protect the corrupt and was not interested in strengthening the institution of Lokayukta.
Earlier, initiating the debate, Mr Shettar said people of the state had lost faith in the Lokayukta following allegations of corruption against the head of the institution. Advocates had boycotted courts across the state demanding the resignation of Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao. It was unfortunate that the anti-corruption body was facing charges of corruption, and the only solution to resurrect its image was to refer the latest allegations to the CBI.
JD(S) floor leader H.D. Kumaraswamy dropped a bombshell when he alleged that several senior IAS officers had paid money to some officers working in Lokayukta institution in order to avoid a raid. He said he had a list of such officers. The purpose of setting up of Lokayukta institution had been defeated with a series of corruption charges against officers working in that institution. Some officers, who were raided by Lokayukta sleuths, had allegedly paid bribe to ensure that ‘B’ reports are filed. 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 complaint by an executive engineer of Mysuru zilla panchayat, he added.
Mr Siddaramaiah, who intervened said, police officers deputed to Lokayukta do not work under the government. Mrs Sonia Narang had written to the registrar and not to the government.
Mr Kumaraswamy said the government cannot keep mum contending that the institution was autonomous because of state-wide protests seeking removal of lokayukta. Besides, people had cast aspersions on the head of the institution too.
Senior Congress member K Ramesh Kumar wanted Mr 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.
Mr Kumaraswamy alleged that Nagaraj, working as private secretary to revenue minister and Syed Riyaz, a PRO in Lokayukta office, were giving the list of senior officers to some agents to threaten them and to collect money. Another person, Rajashekar, working in BDA, was also working as an agent to these 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 added.
Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa advised Mr Kumaraswamy to give a list of senior IAS officers to the CM so that he could order an inquiry before taking action. It would be inappropriate to disclose the names in the House since the latter cannot defend themselves in the House.
Mr Ramesh Kumar sought to know whether Mrs Sonia Narang had the power to take suo motto case of Mr Krishnamurthy, executive engineer, Mysuru Zilla Panchayat to whom a person called Krishna Rao called up demanding ' one crore to avoid raid. “If Mr Krishnamurthy is so honest why did he agree to settle for a lesser amount. Mrs Narang is only a police officer but not a judge. We do not know the background of Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao. I do not know why he has not called the shot yet. The Lokayukta should have written a letter to either the Governor or the Chief Minister soon after complaints of corruption came up,” he added.
Law and parliamentary affairs minister T.B. Jayachandra said the government kept in abeyance its proposal to amend the Lokayukta Act following allegations that it was trying to reduce it to a ‘toothless institution’. The government’s commitment was to strengthen the Lokayukta.
