Overview
- The Karnataka High Court directed the State to grant approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act so Lokayukta police can register an FIR and begin a criminal investigation.
- Justice M. Nagaprasanna ordered the Chief Secretary to issue the sanction within four weeks after finding the government’s repeated refusals lacked meaningful reasoning.
- The court held that clearing an officer in a departmental inquiry does not bar police from investigating potential criminal offences under the corruption law.
- The complaint alleges 14.71 lakh cloth bags were bought for ₹52 each, totalling ₹7.65 crore, when similar bags sold for about ₹13, leading to an alleged ₹5.88 crore loss and diversion of gram panchayat welfare funds.
- The case traces back to an ACB request to probe in 2021, a State refusal in 2022, a High Court quash in February 2025, and a second refusal on May 26, 2025, which prompted the latest order.