ACB not under CM; govt won't interfere in its functioning: Minister

Bengaluru, Mar 17: Law Minister T?B?Jayachandra on Wednesday said the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)?will be given full investigation powers in keeping with the provisions of the Code of Criminal?Procedure (CrPC) and the government will also come out with a detailed manual on the functioning of the newly constituted body.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Jayachandra ruled out government interference in the functioning of the ACB and also asserted that the powers of the Lokayukta or Upalokayukta had not been curtained.

“The ACB?has been constituted with the intention of having an exclusive police wing to curb corruption. It will have a separate staff headed by a police officer of the rank of Additional?Director General of Police (ADGP). The body has been constituted after a lot of internal consultation,” he said.

Jayachandra said an executive order constituting the ACB?issued on March 15 was just a preliminary notification. “We will soon come out with a detailed notification and also a police manual spelling out the functioning and responsibilities of the body. There will be clarity on the independence of the ACB?once the detailed notification is out,” he said.

He said all cases filed by the Lokayukta police under the PC?Act will be transferred to the ACB. The government will also soon take a call on whether designated courts should be provided to exclusively try cases filed by the ACB.

On whether the public should approach the Lokayukta or the ACB with regard to complaints of corruption against government officials, legislators and ministers, Jayachandra said they can file their complaints in either of the institutions.

The minister said the government had not tinkered with the powers of the Lokayukta. “The Lokayukta will remain an independent body. The Lokayukta staff and police will not be retrenched. The Lokayukta legislation has also remained untouched,” he said.

ACB not under CM: Jayachandra

Law Minister T?B?Jayachandra said the ACB?will not be under the control of the Chief Minister. “Even the police in Lokayukta come under the aegis of the chief minister. The master-servant' relationship exists everywhere. There was confusion with regard to the police wing of the Lokayukta taking up cases under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984 and also the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Even courts had pointed out the overlap. Henceforth, all cases pertaining to the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act will be handled only by the ACB”, Jayachandra said.

But the Government Order (GO) clearly stated that the ACB will function under the DPAR. The Vigilance Wing that has been proposed to be set up to assist the ACB in the administrative matters, will be headed by a secretary, who will be an IAS officer. The Secretary will be answerable to the chief minister, the GO added. And, interestingly, the DPAR comes directly under the Chief Minister.

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Post-Sabarimala pilgrimage drinking party turns fatal in Udupi; youth killed in midnight brawl

News Network

December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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