Karnataka: Big bazaar of transfer, posting hit too

Bengaluru: Denotification of higher currency has hit the transfer and posting ‘bazaar’ after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8.

“The transfer and posting market is dry and many of them (officers and politicians) have gone into a huddle and depression. It will, however, be naïve to say that this is the end of the under-the-table dealings for preferred postings.

Instead of cash, there will be dealings in kind like gold and land. It may not be that easy because there’s fear of the next death knell to these rampant illegal dealings for official and personal gains,” said an officer on condition of anonymity.

He said that it is common knowledge that large number of elected representatives like to have their “own people (officers)” in their constituencies and it suits some of the officers to court politicians for larger gains.

“It is routine for a chief minister, home minister, commissioner, director general and inspector general of police to get minutes – small pieces of notes from some Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) asking them to post an officer of their choice to their area and very often they oblige,” said the officer. A posting in High Grounds or Vidhana Soudha police stations in the City is preferred because the officers get to cultivate political contacts.

“Besides courting politicians some police officers also pay to get posted in high revenue police stations like Upparpet, Kalasipalyam, KR Market, Chickpet, Commercial Street and Ashok Nagar, where the flow of income is very high and they also have an opportunity to cultivate good business contacts, which can further yield greater largess.

Postings to these police stations are often auctioned and the money exchanges several hands. It can be a one-time settlement or is spread out. Denotification of higher currency has hit these dealings and there will be a lull in the market for now,” the officer added.

Seized cash in courts, people will not face problems: Ayukta, ACB
With the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, agencies like the Anti-Corruption Bureau and Lokayukta are also making arrangements to smoothly pass through the phase.

Though both the agencies have seized crores of rupees in disproportionate assets and trap cases, it is learnt that the demonetisation will not have much impact. “Whatever cash is seized is court property as per the rule. It will be in the custody of the court till a judgement is passed in any particular case. Demonetisation will have no impact on the seized cash,” an official from the Lokayukta said.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau, however, is helping complainants in trap cases to get their money back that was given to government officials as bribes. IGP, ACB, M.A. Saleem, said the agency will issue letters to complainants. “As the cash seized in trap cases is court property and that cannot be given back to the complainants till the case is decided, we’re making arrangements to ensure that the complainants will get the legal tender.”

As far as cash seized in disproportionate asset cases is concerned, he said, “If at all an accused is acquitted by the court, he can approach the RBI with relevant documents and exchange the demonetised currency to new ones. If he is convicted, the seized money will go the state treasury.”

The same norms apply to the cash seized by local police. “As any cash seized by any government agency will be in court custody, the persons concerned in any individual case can approach the banks or the RBI with relevant documents even after months or years, once the case is decided in the court of law. It should not be a problem as the now demonetised currency was legal currency when it was stolen or seized,” another senior police officer said.