Although it had sought permission to prosecute bureaucrat Sham Bhat in the month of August, 2016, the Anti Corruption Bureau had not been given permission by the State Government yet, said S.R. Hiremath, founder-president, Samaj Parivartana Samudaya, on Saturday. He said the apathy was the indication of the State Government’s commitment towards fighting corruption.
Mr. Hiremath said: “The State Government and Chief Minister had vehemently argued in favour of constitution of ACB. Now when the ACB was doing its duty, those in power were sitting over the issue. It was on August 19, 2016 that ACB first sought permission to prosecute Mr. Bhat in connection with the ‘CA site scandal’ involving Citizen Education Society and others. After writing to the Chief Secretary in August, ACB officials again send a reminder to the Chief Secretary on December 3, 2016. But till date nothing has happened.”
If Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was really serious about fighting corruption and providing transparent governance, he should immediately take steps give permission to ACB to prosecute the bureaucrat, he added.
Mr. Hiremath said that SPS and other organisations would also urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to handover the suspicious suicide of Ramesh K.C., driver of bureaucrat Bhima Naik, who has been accused of converting Rs. 125 crores of black money allegedly belonging to former BJP minister Janardhan Reddy.
