The Lokayukta Special Investigation Team that will investigate cases related to iron ore mining will have a large contingent of nearly 200 personnel under the overall charge of an officer of the rank of Inspector-General of Police.
Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao told presspersons here on Thursday that 194 posts have been sanctioned for the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into mining-related cases. The State Cabinet on Tuesday decided to ask the Lokayukta to set up the SIT. The team will be headed by a police officer of Inspector-General rank. A list of the officers to form part of the team will be finalised by February 20.
On who would head the SIT, Mr. Rao said that the Lokayukta would seek the deputation of the services of an Inspector-General of police to head the team which would start functioning once appropriate accommodation is provided. The anti-corruption ombudsman has requested the government to allot an office on the premises of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal, in Bangalore.
Prosecution ordersThe Lokayukta said that the investigation wing had received Prosecution Sanction Orders (PSOs) against 22 officers accused of corruption in 12 cases registered against them.
“There were 94 cases, in all, as of December 2013 for which we have sought PSOs. With the State government approving prosecution in 12 cases (as of February 6), we are now awaiting PSOs for the remaining cases,” he said.
The Lokayukta has been awaiting clearance from the government to prosecute the accused in 23 cases for over a year, and in the case of 20 other cases for a period ranging between six months and a year.
Asked about the delay in receiving the PSOs, the Lokayukta emphasised that any application for a PSO must be disposed of within three months of it being made to the government, the competent authority for sanction. “A copy of the Supreme Court order stating this had been sent to the government,” he added.
