Fresh probe ordered into complaint against Karnataka minster

The Lokayukta Special Court here today ordered a fresh probe into a complaint filed againstKarnataka Textiles Minister Baburao Chinchansur accusing himof amassing assets disproportionate to known sources ofhis income.
Judge Prabhavati Hiremath directed Superintendent of Police (Lokayukta) Bangalore Urban to conduct an investigationunder 156(3) CrPC into the complaint, filed by one Shanthappa,and submit his report.
Shanthappa, in his complaint, stated that during1989-2011, Chinchansur had purchased 170 properties across thestate and declared his total income to be over Rs 1.56 crorewhereas the actual value of his assets is Rs 14,97,78,217.
The Lokayukta special court ordered the fresh probe into the matter after it decided, as per the directions of the KarnatakaHigh Court, that there is no mandatory requirement of government sanction to prosecute public servants on privatecomplaints.

On February 14, 2013, the High Court haddirected the Lokayukta Special Court to decide whethergovernment sanction is mandatory before prosecuting publicservants on private complaints.
However, on the same day, the High Court had quashed the proceedings of the Lokayukta special court against Chinchansur.

The minister, then a Congress MLA, had filed acomplaint in the High Court against the Lokayukta special courtordering probe into the matter.
The Minister also allegedly possesses immovableassets including gold idol, silver dining table and chairs,Shanthappa had submitted.
During the years 1989, 1994, 1999-2008, Chinchansur had been an MLA and from 1999-2004, he was also a minister for Lotteries, Savings, Insurance and Muzrai.

The complaint charged Chinchansur with committing offences under relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and prayed to the court toorder an investigation under a relevant section CrPC.
The judge posted the matter for next hearing on July 11.