Top orders ignored: engineer raided in 2012 still untouched

Even the state’s highest official hasn’t been able to get a prosecution sanction order issued against an engineer accused of corruption.

On May 31, at a high-level meeting to discuss requests to prosecute government employees, chief secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia ordered the issue of a prosecution sanction order against L Raghu, executive engineer, Bangalore Development Authority, within 10 days.

Raghu is in charge of the Kempegowda Layout. Even two months after Khuntia gave his direction, the order is nowhere in sight. The order against Raghu has remained pending since 2014. At the May 31 meeting, it came to light that requests for prosecution sanction had been rejected in nine cases and kept in abeyance in 43 cases.

In 31 cases, prosecution sanction orders remain pending for more than three months. “L Raghu’s was one of the longest-pending cases and the Chief Secretary instructed the additional chief secretary to clear the file within 10 days,” an official said.

Official absent
A copy of the May 31 proceedings, accessed by DH, reveal that the additional chief secretary of the Public Works Department had not attended the meeting.

The PWD has also not cleared three other long-pending cases. A Lokayukta official said Raghu’s file was being stalled by some official or minister, perhaps on the pretext that legal opinion had been sought.

The Lokayukta’s office had first sought an order against Raghu on October 10, 2014. The final report of the Lokayukta police stated Raghu possessed Rs 1.92 crore in assets disproportionate to his income.

The Lokayukta police kept sending reminders, but nothing moved. The Lokayukta’s office has also recommended disciplinary action against Raghu for his misconduct as a government servant.

Raghu’s wealth
The official in question, Raghu, was raided on November 8, 2012. He was then executive engineer, national highways. His house in RPC Layout and office on Nrupatunga Road were searched. The Lokayukta police said he owned a house in RPC Layout and another on Magadi Road, a commercial complex in KHB Colony, Dasarahalli, three sites in Bengaluru and one in Mysuru. They also found 2.7 kg gold, 20 kg silver and three cars. The final report said he owned assets worth Rs 1.92 crore disproportionate to his income.