TUMAKURU: Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said the government will take strong measures to check corruption in government offices by improving the conviction rate.
“Many factors are responsible for the low conviction rate. We will identify them and ensure they don’t come in the way,” Bommai told reporters.
Besides the role of investigating officers, issues like producing the complainants and witnesses before court will be dealt with. Proper legal advice will be sought from experts, he said.
Bommai said the prosecution has to take the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raid very seriously and the government is planning to further tighten the norms governing procedures following raids.
The CM added there should be a stringent follow-up of cases after ACB raids. “It should be done in a very professional manner and chargesheet against the culprits should be filed in court within a short period,” he said.
Bommai pointed out there is a need to enhance coordination between ACB and the prosecution so as to increase the conviction rate in corruption cases. “I will take action to eliminate the existing loopholes in the law and see that corrupt persons can’t escape by misusing them,” he added.
He said if ACB sleuths have substantial evidence against corrupt officers, higher-ups will definitely give them permission to conduct inquiry against the accused and there is no question of letting any corrupt officer go scot free.
On the implementation of BJP’s 2018 manifesto to restore prosecution powers to the Lokayukta, he said he can’t speak on the issue since the high court is hearing a petition by the Lokayukta questioning the formation of ACB. “We have seen that ACB is doing an excellent job. We have given it a free hand,” he said, adding ACB has the power to register a case against corrupt employees under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Not aware of allegations against IAS officer: HM
Home minister Araga Jnanendra said he does not have information about charges against any IAS officer in Shivamogga. He said there is no allegation against a senior bureaucrat of harassing a girl through chat.
He claimed ACB has been strengthened during the BJP government. Stating it was a routine raid on corrupt officers, he said ACB will file a chargesheet if they’re found guilty. Usually, it takes time to collect evidence, he added.
Jnanendra said the government is proposing to upgrade Shivamogga into a commissionerate. Bhadravathi will also be included.
