BENGALURU: Confirming the receipt of the letter by Balakrishnan, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy denied any possibility of state government misusing ACB to settle scores with I-T officials or for political gains. Reddy termed the entire episode as a well-managed show of the BJP to malign the Siddaramaiah government. “BJP leaders are masters in misusing I-T, ED and CBI and even tapping phones to target political rivals. This letter episode too seems to be part of BJP’s strategy to malign Congress government,” Reddy said.
BSY warns Siddu
BJP State President BS Yeddyurappa has warned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of serious consequences if the ACB is misused. The former Chief Minster said that the ACB had no jurisdiction to raid or take action against I-T officials. ACB has been reduced to a tool of the state government to target political rivals, he said.
We have the jurisdiction, asserts ACB official
As the issue has raised a political controversy, the ACB has asserted that it has the jurisdiction to act against even Union government personnel. Speaking to Express, a senior officer from ACB said that “ACB will function within its limits of the law. Nobody is above law and ACB has powers to act against I-T officials under section 2 of Prevention of Corruption Act”.
There is no exception for central government personnel and ACB will work according to its legal mandate, the official said.