Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter UNDER MINING THE CBI CM SAVES HIS GOVERNMENT, OPTS FOR LOKAYUKTA INSTEAD OF CBI.

FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA

THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER 

 UNDER MINING THE CBI 

 CM SAVES HIS GOVERNMENT, 

OPTS FOR LOKAYUKTA INSTEAD OF CBI. 

 The BJP Government in Karnataka by now has become a bundle of blunders. After coming to power in the year 2008, it has repeatedly at frequent intervals dragged itself into a controversy thereby challenging their very existence and publicly giving message of their manipulative administration. 

 The latest one and perhaps the most shocking one is the mining irregularities. It is publicly known to all that the Reddy brothers have indeed played a vital role in the victory of BJP Government in Karnataka and in return they must be allowed to play with the resources of the state as per their whims and fancies. But then there is also an opposition which never loses a chance to expose the corruption of the ruling Government. The current mining irregularities are in general a manipulation of states iron ore resources that tune up to thousands of crores. While it has now become public, the opposition is demanding the CBI probe in the same while the Chief Minister is avoiding it in order to save the Reddy brothers and also his Government. 

 AND THE PROBE GOES TO….

 Initially Mr. Yedurappa went an extra mile in favour of the Reddy brothers and personally gave them a clean chit saying they are all pure. But as the public and opposition pressure mounted on the CM, he was forced to take some action on the alleged misuse of the resources. But, the CM knows that he cannot afford to opt for a CBI enquiry. Therefore, he intelligently handed over the case to the Lokayukta. Though there was a huge outcry over his decision, the CM remained adamant and now the Lokayaukta is entrusted the probing into the Mining scam from the year 2000 to 2010. 

 Since the common citizen may not understand the deep rooted political game in his decision, the CM has until now successfully dodged the state. Let us now understand the reasons as to why the CM avoided the CBI enquiry and opted for a Lokayukta probe instead. 

 OH NO, NOT AGAIN! 

Practically speaking, Lokayukta is not a suitable agency to probe this scam since this scam spreads to national and international levels and powers of the Lokayukta are restricted to the state of Karnataka only. On the contrary we know that the Lokayukta was already probing the illegal mining scam from the year 2000 and has also submitted its interim report in 2008 and was all ready to submit his final report as well. And if we recall, the Lokayukta had resigned recently on the same grounds that the Government is safeguarding the corrupt officials and punishing the honest ones. Beside he had also publicly blasted the CM for not initiating actions on the mining report. Now what sense does it makes for the CM to once again ask the Lokayukta to conduct a probe? Anyways, the Lokayukta will once again conduct investigation and submit its report to the Government. But, what purpose will it serve? 

 LOKAYUKTA PROPOSES, GOVERNMENT DISPOSES 

Mind it that the Lokayukta has the power to only investigate and can not prosecute the culprit even if it proves them. This means the lokayukta will have to identify the culprits and submit the report to the Government and the penalizing part still rest with the Government and not the Lokayukta. 

 TIME IS TICKING 

Furthermore, is it really possible for the Lokayukta to conduct the probe? The great political gamble is revealed here. The Lokayukta is scheduled to retire in August next year and must submit his report to the Government before his term expires. Since the scams involves inter state and inter national complexities, it will be next to impossible for the Lokayukta to submit the report within a year. And even if he does so, the report will once again be in the hands of Mr. Yedurappa himself, who will then whether to accept or reject the report or his next course of action. 

 BEYOND THE BORDERS

 Besides, the major shortfall for the Lokayukta in this scam would be his limitation to the state only. While the iron ores were exported from the ports of Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, it also includes certain inter national violations as well. The Lokayukta will find it difficult to analyse the transactions outside Karnataka. He may seek assistance of CBI but it may or may not oblige. The Lokayukta also is incapable to seek assistance from the Interpol. 

 INTRUDERS 

Another important problem would be shortage of staff for the Lokayukta. Nevertheless, if he plans to recruit new members, the Government will intervene and put their loyal officials in his assistance which would completely hamper his investigation. 

 ACCESS DENIED

 Obviously, the Mining scam involves crores of rupees which is ought to be deposited in the famous swiss bank. In order to investigate thoroughly, the Lokayukta will also have to extract details of money deposited into the Swiss banks accounts. However, it is next to impossible for the lokayukta to reach Swiss Bank since the Swiss Bank has a policy of not revealing any information of its account holders. The Swiss bank will reveal the information only on the basis that criminal cases are files against a culprit accusing him of monetary manipulation a part of which money is claimed to be deposited in the Swiss Bank. However, the Lokayukta can not make this happen due to his limited powers, and on the contrary it is possible only for the CBI to access Swiss Bank. 

 CBI POWER

 On the other hand if the probe was offered to CBI, it would surely expose the culprits. The CBI is national agency which can access the entire country and also seek assistance at inter national level. Mr. Yedurappa is all aware of it and so he was frightened about the CBI probe. When the pressure mounted him to order investigation, he intentionally avoided the most suitable agency CBI and handed over the probe to the Lokayukta, who is incompetent as far as mining scam, is concerned. Even the Lokayukta himself has publicly accepted and supported the opposition’s demand of handing over the case to CBI for it is a better suitable agency to handle such type of investigations. However, since the opposition and pressure to hand over the case to CBI continues, there is a possibility that the CM might be forced to hand over the case to CBI to save the image of the BJP Government for now. But then, the CM will have to draft another master plan to save himself and his Government. Well, when this does happen, we will bring you the truth again. But for now, Mr. Yedurappa is safe as his political gamble ensures his victory.