BANGALORE: How many times have you unearthed less than you expected from raids ? How do you handle the officials- How do they and their family members behave? Are there any anecdotes you can share with us? — P N Nayak, Belgaum There are many instances when we had information which we believed to be true that officers we were raiding had much more than what we could unearth during the raid. I get a feeling that the corrupt officers are now well prepared and expect the raid any time. Therefore, these days, it is very difficult to confiscate cash and excessive jewellary. It is also possible that illegally acquired cash has a ready made market amongst builders, movie makers and other type of speculative trader as hand loan, hence these officer do not keep cash at home.
But it is difficult to hide documents pertaining to immovable properties because copies of the same is available in registration offices. Information gathering is a very long and tedious procedure. Before a raid is conducted our officers will have to gather correct information with great difficulty. There are instances of seeking sympathy from the raiding staff or being aggressive or abusive. But the raiding officers are normally well trained to deal with the situations. I have known instances when the officials whose house are being raided having jumped over the compound wall and run away to resist arrest along with incriminating documents.
There was an instance when a high ranking officer had managing to take a brief case and hide it in the neighbour’s house, which came to our knowledge two days after our raid. There are many instances of peculiar conducts of corrupt officers. To mention a few, there was one officer who had purchased new shirts and continue to wear till it stinks and thrown it away. The raiding party in that case also found nearly Rs 50,00,000 in small bundles and in envelopes carelessly scattered in a bed room as if money is a small amount not to be taken care of. Recently we had an instance when we found an officer in possession of 20 brand new designer suits and over 600 shirts and trousers and 27 watches.
I am from Bangalore. I have been duped by a land developer, Ashirwad Shelters. I had invested Rs 2.4 lakh with them two years back in January.
They have escaped with the money invested by 200 people. A complaint has been filed with Tilak Nagar police station, Bangalore. Despite the several cases against them, police are not doing anything. What can be done to ensure some action? — Kalpana Under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, the Lokayukta has investigative jurisdiction only against the Karnataka Government officials and other public servants like elected representatives of Karnataka.
An unscrupulous land developer will not fall under this category. But your letter shows that Tilak nagar police have failed to take action on complaints filed against this developer for cheating. If any one of the aggrieved persons files a complaint against the Station House Officer of Tilaknagar police station, the Lokayukta can make an enquiry against the said police officer and if found guilty, recommend actions against the said police officer and also make recommendation to the superior police officers to transfer the complaint to some other police for further action.
Your report says Jija Hari Singh and- Mahendra Jain are responsible for the loss to the state exchequer. But- Jain) still continues as the CMD of MML. Why has the government retained him? Why are people like Jija Hari Singh still able to serve in the state government? — Surendra Shetty It is true that two officers named in your letter have been named along with some other officers as having been responsible for causing loss to the state exchequer and recommendation has been made to hold Departmental Enquiry against them as required under the Karnataka Civil Service Rules. The privilege of allowing these officers in office or not allowing them to continue during the course of enquiry is that of the Government. The Lokayukta is practically helpless in this issue. The Lokayukta can only hold an enquiry and send its recommendations to the Government.
After your stint as Lokayukta for some time,do you still believe in eradication of corruption? If “yes”, how & when? — Raghuvir Avadhani I do not think it is possible to eradicate corruption, because corruption is not something of recent origin. I think it was born with the civilisation. There are reference to the corruption even in scriptures. But certainly it is possible to contain or restrict corruption. The magnitude of corruption in 50’s was not the same as it is today. It has grown multifolds.
The attitude of the society that “what can I do”, is also helping the growth of corruption. We can certainly contain corruption if a majority refuses to pay bribe and tries to expose corruption and the authorities designated to punish the corrupt act vigilantly.
To control curruption Lokayukta must check the pendency statement prepared by the government offices each month. Explanation should be sought for the delay. Ban mobiles in the government offices. When a case/ letter is given to offices they have to acknowlege an give a possible date for replying. Avoid the forwarding procedure. They only forward it, but no action is taken.
— Vasant Pednekar, Belgaum Your suggestion to check corruption in bureaucracy is well taken. As a matter of fact, I am informed that in the state of Gujarat there is a rule which requires every officer dealing with a file to take a decision within four days of the receipt of the file, failing which he will have to give an acceptable explanation. The rule also mandates that if the officer dealing with the file, how so high a position he holds, if he requires any information, all such information should be sought in one go and not in instalments. I am told the rule also provides for punishment to officers contravening the same. If such rules are introduced in administration at all levels in Karnataka, I am sure it will have salutary effect on the disposal of files. Your suggestion in regard to barring of mobile phones may not be practical. Lokayukta has suggested the creation of a Vigilance Officer in each department to check malpractice, but this is not implemented.
Please let me know whether complaint against favouritism and nepotism are also a sort of corruption in Central Public Sector Unit. Can such cases be filed at your office? If not, please let me know which is the other parallel body for the purpose and its address.
— DR Mukunda Favouritism and nepotism are arbitrary acts and if an officer through these isms’’ shows an official favour he is guilty of corruption, apart from misconduct under the Service Rules. Karnataka Lokayukta has no jurisdiction over Central Government /Public Sector units.
If your complaint is in regard to a corrupt act on the part of public servant in these units of Central Government, CBI is the competent authority to deal with it. But if the Act is not corruption, but one of mere favouritism or nepotism, I think Central Vigilance Commission will deal with it.
I work as a medical officer in Karwar dist. There is one Dr Nagendrappa, who hasn’t got his probation cleared but within two months of getting his service reguralised, he joined Post- Graduation through payment. Now, even though as per KCSR rules he has to quit his post, no action has been taken due to our corrupt DHO.
— Govardhan Heggade The facts mentioned in your letter make out a case of violation of Karnataka Civil Service Rules. Therefore, if somebody files a complaint to the Lokayukta in Form No I & II, the Lokayukta can initiate an enquiry and recommend punishment to officers involved in the misconduct. These forms are available in our office in Bangalore and Karwar.