Preliminary inquiry picks holes in Lokayukta report

BANGALORE: The greatest cover-up in Karnataka may just be under way.
Two months after the state cabinet decided to take action against all 617 officials named in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining, a "preliminary inquiry" by a top police officer concluded there is no evidence that bribes were paid to 191 indicted police officers, sources in the home ministry revealed.
The probe conducted by the DCP (Intelligence) of Bangalore VS D'Souza also concluded the indicted police officers did not demand any illegal gratification without even questioning even one of these officials.
Chapter 28 of the Lokayukta report compiled by UV Singh, chief conservator of forests and senior IFS officer, named these 191 police officers. Singh obtained the names of these officers from a pen drive seized by the income-tax department from the premises of Karapudi Mahesh, alleged to be the kingpin of illegal mining operations and aide of arrested mining baron G Janardhana Reddy.
Instead of questioning the police officers named, the inquiry trashes the entire chapter by focusing on "technically flawed seizure of IT authorities", the unknown identity of an alleged employee of Mahesh who signed the panchanama of the department and differences between the accounts of the panchnama witnesses and I-T authorities.
One reason adduced for the conclusion is that Karapudi Mahesh is a semi-literate person and has little idea about operating computers and "hence the said incriminating entries were made by someone else". The inquiry goes on to find fault with Singh for failing to find out "who the computer operator could be and how he/she came across this information".
The preliminary inquiry report, which is now with the home department, was given in December and is expected to absolve the police officers.
The home department, however, maintained status quo by not ordering any further action. But observers pointed out that status quo in itself could mean the indicted officers would remain undisturbed despite facing grave charges.
Heart of the matter
Chapter 28 of the Lokayukta report named 617 officials, including police officers, as beneficiaries of illegal gratification from the illegal mining mafia.
The chapter was prepared by UV Singh, chief conservator of forests and senior IFS officer, who based his findings on incriminating entries found in a pen drive seized by the income-tax department from the office of Karapudi Mahesh on Oct 25, 2010.
The Lokayukta and the director-general, income tax, Bangalore decided in January 2011 to exchange information and records seized for the benefit of both organizations. Singh received the pen drive from the I-T department on February 21, 2011.
The preliminary inquiry in its haste to trash the Lokayukta report and absolve the 191 police officers of any wrongdoing says this "gap of four months" between the seizure of the pen drive and its handing over to Singh has not been explained and concludes that "it is possible that it might have been tampered with".
Some self-doubt too
While categorically stating there is no sufficient evidence to initiate action against tainted police officers under Rule 6 of the Karnataka State Police (DP) Rules, the inquiry officer hastened to add that "the quality of evidence is inadequate" and "going in for department proceedings against the said officials will be futile unless more corroborating evidence is unearthed".
"I am of the view that further evidence in the form of bank statements of Karapudi Mahesh, contents of ledgers, khata maintained by him and the statements of the persons who had actually witnessed the payments of bribes need to be recorded before registering any case," sources cited D'Souza as saying in his report.
No comments: D'Souza
VS D'Souza declined to comment on his report. "My report speaks for itself. There is nothing more to say other than that," he said.