NEW DELHI: After the Karnataka High Court abolished the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), formed by the former Congress government headed by then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2016, and transferred all pending cases before the ACB to the Lokayukta police division, the Aam Aadmi Party welcomed the recent order of High Court and party leaders celebrated the move by cutting a cake in front of the Lokayukta office in Bengaluru.
Aam Aadmi Party’s state president Prithvi Reddy addressed the media and said, “Social activists started ‘Bhrashtachar Saku’ in 2010 and 2011. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too joined this movement. Later, this turned into ‘India Against Corruption’ movement, spreading all over the country and leading to the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party. Hence, people who suffered from corruption started supporting Aam Aadmi Party”.
He further said that “all those cases which are long overdue should be investigated at the earliest. “Also, Lokayukta should reopen the cases that ACB had closed by giving a clean chit. There are many examples where prominent and powerful people escaped from punishment but their corruption is well known to the world. The State Government should give full powers to empower the Lokayukta to uphold its strength,” said the AAP leader.
Mukhyamantri Chandru, who is the Karnataka state president for campaign committee, said that “the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched ACB in 2016 fearing Lokayukta’s prosecution of his corrupt ministers and associates. The ACB protected the corrupt instead of punishing them. Former Chief Minister and BJP leader B S Yediyurappa promised restoration of Lokayukta powers within 24 hours. However, this step was never taken despite being in power for three years now. The JDS didn’t oppose it as they too had corrupt sharks in its fold. The High Court’s order has come as a shocker to all three parties.”
The AAP leaders met the Lokayukta and insisted on a quick investigation of pending cases so that all those guilty of corruption shall be punished soon. AAP’s state spokesperson K Mathai and others were present in the delegation.
“We celebrated the rebirth of Lokayukta today in Bengaluru. Congratulations to all involved in the movement. We have submitted a request to review the cases of influencers closed by ACB,” tweeted the Karnataka AAP unit today.
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday abolished the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and transferred all pending cases before the ACB to the Lokayukta Police division. In 2016, the Siddaramaiah government formed the ACB, curtailing the powers of the Lokayukta.
A division bench comprising Justice B Veerappa and Justice K S Hemalekha said that all pending cases before the ACB will now get transferred to the Lokayukta Police division.
The order was passed in connection with Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Chidananda Urs, Advocates’ Association and social activist S R Hiremath’s Samaj Parivartan community challenging the formation of the ACB. (ANI)