People can move Lokayukta against Central govt staff seeking bribe

February 19, 2011

Mangalore, February 19: If someone in a Central government organisation demands bribe one need not go all the way to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Bangalore. They can approach the nearest Lokayukta police station with a complaint.

This is the new arrangement the CBI has evolved to effectively deal with complaints of demand for bribe made against employees of Central government agencies.

In a notification issued a month ago, the CBI Director has sought the help of anti-corruption agencies in the States to take action against those seeking bribe.

As per the request, the Lokayukta police have intimated the CBI about their readiness to cooperate.

“This step could have been taken earlier. Such a move will help in effectively dealing with complaints of corruption at the grass roots levels,” Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde said. All these days, the Lokayukta police were exchanging information with the CBI, he said.

Additional Director-General of Police (Lokayukta) Rupak Kumar Dutta said that anti-corruption agencies in States were empowered to deal with all cases of graft under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

While the CBI Manual restricted the Central agency to complaints against Central government employees, the State anti-corruption agencies dealt with those against the State government employees.

Mr. Dutta said the Lokayukta police were generally not dealing with complaints against Central government employees and were asking complainants to approach the CBI unit in Bangalore.

While the complainants were finding it difficult to go all the way to Bangalore, the ACB unit, with its limited staff, was also finding it hard to take effective action. “There have been instances where the CBI has found that there is no substance in the complaint,” he said.

Saving time

The new arrangement, Mr. Dutta said, would save time — both for the complainant and the CBI.

“We will deal with complaints in our State,” Mr. Dutta said.

After receipt of the complaint, the Lokayukta police will work towards trapping the official concerned and then hand over further investigation to the CBI. Mr. Dutta said instructions had been sent to all Lokayukta police units in this regard.

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From Representation to Rivalry: The Sorry State of Muslim Leadership in Karnataka Congress

coastaldigest.com news network

January 19,2026

Bengaluru: As the dust settles on the recent legislative session, the corridors of Vidhana Soudha are buzzing with more than just policy talk. A high-stakes game of political musical chairs has begun, exposing a deepening rift within the Congress party’s Muslim leadership as a major Cabinet reshuffle looms.

With the party hierarchy signaling a "50% refresh" to gear up for the 2028 Assembly elections, the race to fill three projected Muslim ministerial berths has transformed from a strategic discussion into an all-out turf war.

The "Star Son" Spark

The internal friction turned public this week following provocative remarks by Zaid Khan, actor and son of Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. Zaid’s claim—that his father "helped" secure a ticket for Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad in 2023—has acted as a lightning rod for resentment.

Rizwan’s camp was quick to fire back, dismissing the comment as a desperate attempt by Zameer to manufacture seniority. "Rizwan’s political pedigree was forged in the NSUI and Youth Congress long before Zameer even stepped into the party," a supporter noted, highlighting Rizwan’s tenure as an AICC secretary and his two-term presidency of the State Youth Congress.

A Tale of Two Loyalists

While both Zameer Ahmed Khan and Rizwan Arshad are staunch allies of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and represent Bengaluru strongholds, their political DNA could not be more different:

• Zameer Ahmed Khan: A four-time MLA who crossed over from JD(S) in 2018. Known for his "overzealous" and often polarizing outreach during communal flashpoints—from the DJ Halli riots to the recent Wakf land notice controversy—his style has frequently left the Congress high command in a state of "discomfort."

• Rizwan Arshad: A homegrown organizational man. Seen as a "quiet performer," Arshad represents the sophisticated, moderate face of the party, preferred by those who find Zameer’s brand of politics too volatile.

The Outsiders Looking In

The bickering isn't limited to a duo. The "Beary" community, represented by leaders like N A Haris and Saleem Ahmed, is demanding its pound of flesh. Saleem Ahmed, the Chief Whip in the Legislative Council, has dropped the veil of diplomacy, openly declaring his ministerial aspirations.

"I was the only working president not included in the Cabinet last time," Saleem noted pointedly, signaling that the "loyalty quota" is no longer enough to keep the peace.

As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah prepares to finalize the list, he faces a delicate balancing act: rewarding the aggressive grassroots mobilization of Zameer’s camp without alienating the organizational stalwarts and minority sub-sects who feel increasingly sidelined by the "Chamarajpet-Shivajinagar" binary.

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