What do citizens do when the very institution set up to curb graft is hit by allegations of corruption? This is no longer just a hypothetical question, instead an embarrassing reality for the Karnataka Lokayukta.
A few staff of the Lokayukta have been allegedly caught red-handed by senior officers while demanding bribe from government officials, threatening to raid and file disproportionate cases against them. Such instances came to light when an aggrieved officer working as engineer with the PWD approached senior police officers seeking clarification about the phone calls made to him from staff claiming to be from the Lokayukta’s investigation wing.
Disturbed by these charges, Superintendent of Lokayukta police Sonia Narang verified the call details and ascertained that the calls were indeed made from the Lokayukta office. She has submitted a report detailing who the possible suspects could be, to Additional Director General of Police (Lokayukta) Prem Shankar Meena and has sought action. Shockingly, those who had made the calls had even dropped the name of Ms. Narang. Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Narang said that based on the incident, a probe was conducted and a report had been submitted and refused to comment further, stating that it was an “internal matter.” However, sources said that the Lokayukta office had taken the matter very seriously. Antecedents of visitors are being closely monitored, while the staff have also been directed to step up surveillance.
Corruption in Lokayukta is not new and every honest officer tends to get disturbed. Eight months after assuming office, I was upset and had even submitted my resignation to the then Governor T.N. Chaturvedi. I withdrew it after he pointed out that resigning was a cowardly act and asked me to fight it out. I advise everyone who is suffering from this menace to be brave and do their job honestly.
N. Santosh Hegde, Former Lokayukta
