Karnataka Governor Questions Cabinet’s Knowledge of Lokayukta’s Confidential Request

GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 20th Sept. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has expressed “perplexity” in a recent letter to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh regarding how the state government became aware of confidential material related to a Lokayukta request for prosecution sanctions against several opposition leaders.

In his letter, Gehlot referred to a Cabinet decision from August 22, noting it contained only observations about pending sanctions for four cases but did not include any official “advice” to him, contrary to media reports. The Cabinet’s decision purportedly recommended swift action on requests concerning JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy and former BJP ministers, including mining baron G Janardhan Reddy.

Gehlot expressed concern over how details of the Lokayukta’s requests were leaked, asking, “How did Lokayukta Police, being an independent body, share confidential material with anyone other than the sanctioning authority?” He requested a prompt reply from the Chief Secretary along with relevant Cabinet documents.

This correspondence comes shortly after Gehlot sanctioned the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a separate case concerning land allotments in Mysuru. Siddaramaiah has since challenged the legality of this sanction in the High Court, which has reserved its judgment on the matter.