Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde on Monday said the Lokayukta police raids are conducted against ‘corrupt’ officers under the Prevention of Corruption Act and not the Lokayukta Act.

Senior advocate Subramanya Jois in a public seminar had alleged that the Lokayukta raids are conducted soon after a complaint is filed.

There’s no prima facie examination of the complaint nor any explanation sought from the officials. Also the raid details should not be released to the media till they are inquired into, he had reportedly said.

No  complaint

“As per the PC Act, raids are conducted on source information by a Lokayukta police officer. He need not and does not register a complaint. He makes a preliminary enquiry and under Section 17 of the Act, reports it to his senior, who again enquires into the case, and refers further investigation to another officer, to avoid prejudice.

This officer registers a complaint and starts his own investigation. This and the consequent raid is supervised by higher officers,” said Justice Hegde.

He said that Section 22 (2) of the Lokayukta Act mandates publication of names in three widely circulated newspapers, of defaulting MLAs and legislators, who have not filed their assets and liabilities timely.