The Supreme Court on Monday came to the rescue of Karnataka IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri (IAS:2009:KN) by staying the High Court’s order directing the state government to give approval for her prosecution in a corruption case. Sindhuri is facing corruption allegations in the alleged “cloth bag scam” during her tenure as Mysuru Deputy Commissioner way back in 2021.
The High Court earlier this month had directed the state govt to grant sanction for registration of FIR against her in connection with irregularities in the procurement of eco-friendly bags for distribution within Mysore City Corporation and other local bodies.
Under section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the government’s approval is mandatory for registering an FIR in cases wherein the allegation pertains to a decision taken during the discharge of official functions.
The state govt had declined to give its approval to register an FIR against Sindhuri twice in the past, as the officer had been exonerated in a departmental inquiry. Yet the High Court asked the govt to consider giving approval afresh.
Sindhuri then moved the apex court, challenging the validity of the High Court’s order.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma issued notices to the complainant and others based on her plea.
The complaint in the case alleged that eco-friendly bags were procured from KHDC at Rs 52 per bag, while the same bags could be procured at Rs 13 per bag in the retail market. The procurement allegedly resulted in a loss of Rs 5.89 crore to the exchequer.
It was further alleged that funds earmarked for welfare schemes for the economically vulnerable sections within the Grama Panchayats were diverted to procurement.
A Mysuru-based lawyer and social activist, N R Ravinchandre Gowda, had filed a complaint against her with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which sought approval to register an FIR in the case, but the approval was rejected.
The complainant challenged it in the HC, which directed the state govt to reconsider it afresh in accordance with law.
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