31 March,2011 08:36 AM IST | | B V Shiva Shankar
Lokayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde is facing a piquant situation with the Lokayukta police feeling low, as the accused in high profile cases succeed in getting stay orders for proceedings against them.
The High Court, on Tuesday, granted an interim stay on the Lokayukta probe into the alleged land scam involving Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his relatives. The stay came three days after the Lokayukta special court referred the case to the Lokayukta police, while the directive was not encouraging for the investigators in the first place.
Bad timing? Three days after the Lokayukta special court referred the case
to the Lokayukta police, the High Court granted an interim stay on the
Lokayukta probe into the alleged land scam involving the
CM and his relatives. File pic
C B Hippragi, special judge of the Lokayukta court, had issued directions for the investigation under Section 202 (1) of CRPC, which curtails investigators from arresting the accused, while filing FIR also becomes redundant.
After much deliberation, the Lokayukta police dropped the idea of filing FIR, and then the low blow came in the form of the stay.
Hands bound
"The stay has bound our hands, but we are more disappointed over the fact that things are not moving in the Lokayukta to match our pace. The lethargy in taking decisions is hindering our functioning," said a senior officer in the Lokayukta police.
Some officers are even depressed over the fact that there are allegedly being seen as turncoats in the Lokayukta. They claim that some believe they are leaking information, which is beneficial to politicians, especially when they are the accused.
Sources said this was the reason for Madhukar Shetty, who is seen as one of the most upright police officers, applying for long leave.u00a0 "I'll be a liar if I say I am happy with the way things are going. No one is to be blamed, as we have to respect the system. But let me tell you this is not the reason why I am going on leave," said Madhukar Shetty.
Feeling low
While hoping the disposal of the cases comes faster, Hegde, said, "My advice to the police is not to lose heart. We are frustrated that in many cases concerning politicians, we are not seeing the accused being jailed even for a single day," said Hegde.
He said he felt it was difficult to keep officials in high spirits with the given situation. "I never interfere with the functioning of the Lokayukta police, but I am always with them," he said.
u00a0R K Datta, additional director general of police (Lokayukta), said, "I can only say I am surprised at the court's order staying the investigation. Our hands are tied."
u00a0While Section 19(3) of Prevention of Corruption Act says the court cannot grant stay on the cases booked under the act, many citations of the Supreme Court endorse it. "The aggrieved parties can petition, questioning the stay order. We are also deliberating on our next course of action," said Hegde.
