Karnataka Lokayukta Shivaraj Patil on Tuesday said he will act on the illegal mining report submitted by his predecessor and Governor Bhardwaj’s recommendation to initiate criminal proceedings against indicted former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.
“I have almost read the voluminous mining scam report. I will examine the provisions available under the law to initiate action in this regard,” he told reporters here.
He also said he would read the governor’s letter and take appropriate steps to initiate criminal proceedings against Mr. Yeddyurappa, who had to quit as chief minister following the indictment by previous Lokayukta Santosh Hegde.
Mr. Bhardwaj had recommended the Lokayukta to initiate criminal proceedings against Mr. Yeddyurappa.
To another question, Mr. Patil said Lokayukta police would probe the complaint against Mr. Yeddyurappa, alleging irregularities in the Upper Bhadra irrigation project, which was referred to it for probe by a local court on Monday.
He said the Lokayukta would draw up a roadmap and an action plan by month-end to address issues on improving its functioning.
“I would like to suggest to the government to launch online registration of property documents and install CCTVs in government offices to check corruption.”
Mr. Patil also said the conviction rate in corruption cases handled by Lokayukta in 2011 shot up to 45 per cent, compared to six to seven per cent a few years back.
