BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court has sought a response from the Lokayukta police over allegations that they failed to act on a complaint concerning land allotments and concessions involving the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, in a case naming Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and members of his family.
Justice Naga Prasanna directed that notice be served on the Lokayukta police while hearing a petition filed by complainant Vijay Raghav Marathe. Advocate Lakshmi Iyeangar, appearing for Marathe, argued that the Special Court should have directed the Lokayukta police to investigate the allegations. After considering the arguments, Justice Naga Prasanna ordered notice to the Lokayukta police. The notice gives the authorities an opportunity to respond to the proceedings and to the allegations concerning their handling of the complaint.
The petition challenges the manner in which the Special Court for MPs and MLAs dealt with his complaint under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Instead, the Special Court declined to order such an investigation, citing deficiencies in the affidavit filed with the complaint, and proceeded to consider the matter directly under Section 223 of the BNSS.
The petition before the High Court centres in part on what the complainant says was the failure of the Lokayukta police to act after he approached the anti corruption agency.
Marathe challenged that procedure before the High Court, arguing that the Special Court had adopted the wrong course in dealing with his complaint.
Marathe’s complaint to the Lokayukta sought an investigation into the alleged irregularities.
However, no action followed, according to his petition.
