Mysore: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that Lokayukta was an autonomous body and hence the State Government has a limited role in investigating the corruption allegations. While addressing reporters at Mysuru Airport here on Sunday, he dismissed allegation raised by opposition leaders in this regard.
When asked about former chief minister Jagadish Shettar’s allegation that both the government and the Lokayukta were protecting each other’s wrongdoing, he said, “Where is corruption? All allegations are false and baseless. We need not protect anybody. Government is functioning as per law. They say that we should give it to CBI. Let them tell under what provision, which section under Lokayukta Act we can we do that. We will immediately hand over the case to CBI,” he said.
“Just for the sake of publicity, they are telling that Lokayukta directed us to hand over the case to CBI. They did not write to us to give it to any agency, they specifically mentioned that we should constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case. We have constituted SIT, led by ADGP Kamal Pant. In case if the SIT writes to us to hand over the case to CBI, we will immediately do so,” Mr Siddaramaiah added.
When asked whether they can’t take up a suo motu decision, he said, “Where is the provision under Lokayukta Act to take such a decision. As per the provisions under Section 6 of the Lokayukta Act and Section 3 of Judges Inquiry Act, there are certain provisions related to removal of Lokayukta. If Opposition parties want to move a motion, we don’t have any objection. We will not stop them.”
When asked why the government has not asked Bhaskar Rao to step down, he said Lokayukta was an autonomous body. “What right have we got to ask him to resign. Suppose we ask and if he doesn’t resign, then what next. We are only functioning as per law,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.
When asked about amendment to Lokayukta Act, he said the government would soon bring about a comprehensive amendment.
