'Lokayukta awaits OK to prosecute 98 officials'

The government on Thursday informed the Karnataka High Court that there were 98 ‘corrupt’ government officials against whom the Lokayukta was waiting for sanction of prosecution (SOP).

In a report submitted to the court, the government said, of the 98 cases, the Lokayukta had sought SOP for 66 officials since November 2016. The report says there are a few cases pending for approval from the legislature secretariats. Urban development department tops the list with 12 officials, nine from Finance department, six each from the Home department and the department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms.

Hearing a petition about the pending cases before the Lokayukta, Justice A N Venugopala Gowda directed the government to decide on the SOP in three months for the Lokayukta to investigate the complaints.