Daijiworld Media Network- Mandya (RJP)
Mandya, Jun 28: “If the institution which is supposed to stop corruption itself has corruption within it, then it is better to close it,” opined Justice Santosh Hegde, former chief of Lokayukta. He was speaking to journalists in Mandya.
“People have faith in Lokayukta. But when they learn that Lokayukta also has corruption within it, and then they lose their faith in it. We have a very strong Lokayukta in the country. And if the corruption affects the Lokayukta, it is better to close it instead of doing drama,” Justice Hegde added.
“A higher agency should probe the corruption within Lokayukta. For these types of cases, CBI investigation is better than CID one. Government should have intervened in this matter. It is sad to see Lokayukta not subjecting itself to proper investigation from an outside agency. The investigation which it has ordered is not right,” Justice Hegde continued.
Justice Hegde also said “There is no guarantee that fair justice will prevail as the CCB chief Chandrashekar‘s own house was raided by Lokayukta.”
Justice Hegde opined that new Lokayukta laws are not required now. Instead Lokayukta should be given more powers and it should engage itself in transparent manner to help the common people.
Meanwhile CCB chief Chandrashekar has written a letter to Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao to reconsider his decision of CCB investigating the corruption in Lokayukta. He has said that Ramanjaneya the former special deputy commissioner of Bengaluru, is his uncle and Lokayukta has a case against Ramanjaneya in progress. Hence for moral reasons he feels that he cannot pursue the case.
On Friday Justice Bhaskar Rao had ordered CCB to investigate the corruption said to be prevailing within Lokayukta.
Lokayukta took hasty decision on probe into graft, says Justice Adi
Udupi, Jun 28 (DHNS): The UpaLokayukta on Saturday said the Lokayukta had taken a hasty decision to hand over the probe into the charges of corruption at the ombudsman’s office in Bengaluru to the Central Crime Branch (CCB).
Addressing media persons here, Justice Subhash Adi said Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao’s decision was unexpected. “He has taken a hasty decision following reports in the media of his son’s involvement in the alleged corruption at the watchdog’s office,” he said.
Adi said the CCB was not a competent authority and was ranked below the institution of Lokayukta. “It cannot dig out the truth because it is susceptible to influence,” he added.
Terming the Lokayukta’s decision as “unfortunate”, Adi said the inquiry should be handled either by the Lokyukta or by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
He said no decision on the probe had been taken till Thursday evening and that Justice Rao had informed him about the CCB handling it, while he was at a meeting in Mangaluru. “There was not a even hint... the Lokayukta suddenly told me the investigating agency would be different. Since then I have not been in touch with him,” he said.
He said an impartial and in-depth probe into alleged corruption at the ombudsman’s office was the need of the hour. However, he said the CCB inquiry was in progress. “I am in constant touch with the investigating officials and I’m keeping abreast of the developments. It’s not proper to interfere in the inquiry which is under way.”
Clamour grows
The clamour for the Lokyukta’s resignation is growing. ‘Save Lokayukta Institution Action Forum’ on Saturday demanded that Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao step down to facilitate a free and fair investigation into the multi-crore corruption charges at the Lokayukta office, reports DHNS from Bengaluru.
The forum convenor, B M Shivakumar, stated in a press release that if the Lokayukta did not step down, they would be forced to launch a statewide agitation. The forum will stage a demonstration on Sunday at 11 am near Gandhi Bhavan in the City against the Lokayukta.
Social activist Saidatta, too, has demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to uphold the dignity and sanctity of the Lokayukta institution. He urged the State government to take an initiative in this regard.