Govt blames Lokayukta, reinstates tainted officer

The government has lied in the process to protect and reinstate a dismissed government official on charges of graft.

The government reinstated Archaeological Conservation Engineer, S M Poojari who was acquitted in a disproportionate assets case by the High Court. The government order, dated January 27, 2018, stated the Lokayukta police have decided not to file a special leave petition before the Supreme Court, challenging the HC order. In fact, the government had refused the proposal to file SLP.

The Lokayukta court in Mysuru had sentenced Poojari to RI to three years and slapped a fine of Rs 65.88 lakh in the disproportionate assets case. The Lokayukta police case was that Poojari, who was then an assistant conservation officer at the directorate of archaeology and museums in Mysuru, possessed DA estimated at 190%.

On his criminal appeal, High Court judge Justice Anand Byrareddy set aside the order in March 2017. The Special Public Prosecutor for Lokayukta police submitted a report recommending an appeal challenging the high court order. A letter was dispatched to the government on June 1, 2017, to accord permission for an appeal.

After four months, the government replied not prefering an appeal.

"We are not aware if the government in its order reinstating the officer has stated as Lokayukta police has not preferred an appeal. Apart from the DA case, the officer faced charges of irregularities in the restoration work of Shivappa Nayaka Palace in Shivamogga and Sooralu Palace in Udupi district,'' an official said.

Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi had recommended the state government to relieve Poojari and four other officials on compulsory retirement.

An official said that the order of the Upalokayukta was challenged before Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) and it was stayed.