Govt agencies sitting on 45 requests for sanction to prosecute officials in criminal cases

Bengaluru: Various state agencies are sitting on as many as 45 requests from the Bengaluru police for sanction to prosecute government officials named in various criminal cases, according to data reviewed by DH. 

Several of these requests had been rejected outright because government agencies were keen to shield their own, senior police officers say. 

Between 2020 and 2024, the Bengaluru police sought permission to prosecute government officials booked in dozens of cases related to death by negligence, cheating, hate speech and the like. 

In the last five years, competent authorities rejected over 50 sanction requests, citing a lack of evidence or arguing that the officials concerned were not directly involved. 

Eleven of the 45 requests are pending at police stations. These were rejected earlier and the police are preparing to send them again. 

This reluctance to grant sanctions is exemplified in specific cases. 

The competent authority has rejected repeated sanction requests to prosecute Bescom officials for the electrocution of a nine-year-old boy in Viveknagar in 2021. However, police haven't given up and continue to pursue it. 

A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) posted in Bengaluru lamented that civic agencies often deny their employees' role in such deaths and refuse prosecution sanction. At other times, they take months to process the request, and the answer is often a no. 

For example, the Basavanagudi police requested the competent authority for sanction to prosecute officials from the Regional Passport Office (RPO) for issuing Indian passports to Sri Lankan nationals. The competent authority rejected the request twice after taking a long time to respond. Police are preparing to send another request. 

A DCP who previously worked in the Lokayukta police noted that investigators often make errors while sending prosecution sanctions to government agencies, leading to rejections. 

"Different agencies require different documents to be attached to the prosecution sanction requests. Investigators unfamiliar with these requirements often make errors, giving prosecution sanction officers an excuse to reject the requests," the officer said. 

Talking about the airport police receiving sanction to prosecute six officials in passports cases two months ago, Sajeeth VJ, DCP (Northeast), said the requests were drafted by those "very well familiar" with the process and who knew what had to be sent. 

A senior police officer explained that when the competent authority delays the prosecution sanction, investigators are often reluctant to resubmit requests because sanction requests have to go through multiple layers (ACP-DCP-police commissioner-DGP office-Home Department) and take months. Investigators often give up, the officer added. 

Another DCP posted in the city said it was hard to convince civic authorities to give prosecution sanctions. 

"They give various excuses and shield their employees. We need to resubmit the requests with documents debunking their claims," said the officer. 

There are also examples of police themselves leaving government officials out or booking only lower-ranking officers in criminal cases.