“The spectre of corruption once raised, on the basis of material placed on record, cannot be summarily extinguished at the threshold,” stated Justice M Nagaprasanna of the Karnataka High Court, emphasizing the necessity for a thorough investigation into the allegations against IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri.
The court’s directive comes in light of a complaint alleging a significant loss of Rs 7.5 crore to the state government due to the procurement of eco-friendly bags in 2021. Rohini Sindhuri, who was serving as the deputy commissioner of Mysuru and also held the position of Managing Director of the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation at that time, is at the center of this controversy.
According to the complaint filed by NR Ravinchandre Gowda, a lawyer and social activist from Mysuru, the eco-friendly bags were purchased at an inflated price of Rs 52 each, while the market price was only Rs 13. This discrepancy raises serious questions about the procurement process and the decision-making involved.
The Karnataka state government initially declined to grant permission for prosecution under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which aims to protect public servants from frivolous complaints. However, the High Court criticized this decision, asserting that corruption allegations must be properly investigated and cannot be dismissed without inquiry.
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Justice M Nagaprasanna further clarified, “Departmental proceedings and criminal prosecution operate in distinct spheres, governed by distinct standards of proof and objectives.” This statement underscores the court’s position that the legal frameworks for departmental inquiries and criminal investigations should not be conflated.
The court also emphasized that Section 17A should not be used to obstruct serious investigations, as it is intended only to prevent false complaints. “To hold otherwise, would be to conflate two distinct legal regimes – crime and a departmental enquiry, each governed by its own objectives, standards, and evidentiary thresholds,” Justice M Nagaprasanna noted.
As the case unfolds, the Karnataka High Court has ordered the state government to grant permission for the Lokayukta police to file a First Information Report (FIR) against Rohini Sindhuri. This development marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation into the procurement of over 14 lakh eco-friendly cloth bags.
Rohini Sindhuri, a senior IAS officer of the 2009 batch from the Karnataka cadre, has previously been involved in a highly publicized feud with IPS officer D. Roopa in 2023. The outcome of this latest legal challenge will be closely monitored as it could have far-reaching implications for her career and for the integrity of public service in Karnataka.
