'Delay in justice benefits guilty'

The Lokayukta said regardless of the social status of a person accused of corruption, there should be a system to ensure quick punishment.

Citing a case of corruption that came before the Supreme Court 18 years after the commission of the offence, he said: “The person facing the charges is now 80-year old. If convicted, how can he serve a sentence?”

On Lokyukta police, Hegde said about 25 cases of corruption have been registered in the present government, but nearly 85 per cent hesitated to conduct inquiry due to the fear of transfer. He said: “Laws should be amended to ensure the guilty do not take advantage of slow moving investigations and continue to indulge in further acts of corruption.”

Retired Justice M N Venkatachalaiah called for changes in the way to tackle corruption, as the laws formulated were archaic and needed to keep pace with newer forms of corruption emerging these days.