Karnataka HC panel: Charges against Adi not true; Upalokayukta gets clean chit

Bengaluru: In a major development which could cause huge embarassment to the Siddaramaiah government, the Karnataka high court has found all five charges levelled against Upa Lokayukta Subhash Adi by the Congress party, untrue.

The court passed an order dropping the dismissal procedure initiated by the Congress legislature party in the Legislative Assembly.

In the 350-page judgement, Justice Budihal panel observed, “I have gone through the oral and written material placed on record, I am of the opinion that the complainants have failed to prove the charges with cogent, acceptable and satisfactory material.”

The state government was represented by additional advocate general Ponnanna.

Reacting to the court order, BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa demanded that the chief minister apologise to the state for indulging in vindictive politics. He said the verdict exposed the government’s attempt to weaken the Lokayukta. “This verdict will be a morale booster to those who honestly work under the present government,” he said. Congress MLC, V.S. Ugrappa, who had contended that Justice Adi was involved in irregularities, said the decision was unfortunate.

Asked whether it was an embarassment for the ruling party, Mr Ugrappa replied in the negative and said, “The legislators used their right and initiated proceedings,” he said.

Opposition leader in Assembly Jagadish Shettar said the allegation was part of a witchhunt unleashed at the behest of Mr Ugrappa and a few others.

The Congress party MLAs were made to sign the petition against Justice Adi without reading its contents. Now, the truth has come out, he said while slamming the government.