BANGALORE: The state government has decided to crack the whip on officials who allegedly colluded with illegal mine operators in Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts and against those named in the report submitted by former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde to the government in July this year.According to highly-placed sources, the government, in a communique to department heads of Police, Ports, Mines, Forests, and Transport, has asked authorities to initiate action against officers who benefited from alleged largesse from illegal mine operators.As many as 617 officials from the top rung to the bottom in departments, including Police, Ports, Mines & Geology, Forests, Environment, Transport and Revenue were named in the Lokayukta report.Officials in many districts in the state were bribed to get undue favours.According to the Lokayukta report, approximately `2,46,62377 was paid to 617 officials and the Lokayukta had recommended criminal action against them. It also recommended recovery of the amount allegedly received by the said officials.Home Secretary S M Jamadar told Express that action has been initiated against 191 police officials who were named in the report. “So far, seven officials, including those in Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), Additional SP ranks were suspended and permission was sought from the government to suspend two others,” he said.A separate cell was formed to look into the issue and slap show-cause notices against other officers involved. “We are confused about taking action against 45 officials due to ambiguity in the report itself on their involvement,” he said.He also confirmed that the Home Department has written to Lokayukta to initiate action on its own against these officials. “The Lokayukta is empowered to initiate criminal prosecution on its own against the officials under the Prevention of Corruption Act,” he said.
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