The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday clarified that the Lokayukta police wing can continue to investigate corruption cases booked by them before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) was entrusted with the power to register and investigate cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice Ravi Malimath gave the clarification when it was brought to their notice by counsel for the petitioners, who have challenged formation of the ACB, that there was confusion over power to investigate as the court had earlier stayed transfer of all existing corruption cases to the ACB from the Lokayukta police wing.
“The interim order, already, granted on April 7, 2016, that the cases under investigation and pending for sanction at the police wing of the Karnataka Lokayukta should not be transferred to the newly-formed ACB shall continue. However, this will not prevent the police officers attached to the Karnataka Lokayukta [police wing] to continue with the investigation in those cases,” the Bench said, while adjourning further hearing till June second week.
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