Karnataka HC disposes of IPS officer’s plea in Lokayukta graft case

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday disposed of the petition filed by IPS officer Shrinath M Joshi in the alleged extortion and corruption case using the Lokayukta office.

Joshi, who was relieved on June 12 as the Superintendent of Police (Bengaluru City-1), Lokayukta, had challenged the June 15, 2025, notice issued to him calling upon to appear for questioning.

In the earlier hearing, the court had stayed the notice on the ground that mandatory documents, such as a copy of the complaint and the FIR, were not enclosed. In the subsequent hearing, the Lokayukta police provided the documents to the advocate appearing for Joshi.

While disposing of the petition, Justice SR Krishna Kumar observed that since the notice, requiring him to appear before the Lokayukta police on June 16, stood exhausted, there is nothing that remains to be considered in the present petition.

The court has reserved liberty to the Lokayukta police to issue a fresh notice without documents within a period of 10 days. The court further reserved liberty to the petitioner to seek recourse, including filing an application seeking anticipatory bail, which can be considered by the jurisdictional court.

Constable's case

In a related development, the court on Tuesday reserved its judgment in the petition filed by dismissed constable Ningappa Savant challenging the FIR.

The petitioner has challenged the registration of the FIR against him mainly on the ground that a case of extortion cannot be investigated by the Lokayukta police.

The advocate for the petitioner argued that both Section 7A and 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act do not attract in the case at hand, since the petitioner is not a public servant.