Bangalore: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has ordered the suspension of the five police officials from whom the Lokayukta detected huge unaccounted wealth.

Mr. Kumaraswamy also said his Government was committed to providing more teeth to the Lokayukta and a decision would be taken shortly.

He told presspersons here on Wednesday that the demand of the Lokayukta for more powers had been pending before the Government for several years. "The new Government is committed to tackling corruption and towards this end it will favourably consider the demands of the Lokayukta. Give us some time and we will do our best. After all this Government is only 40 days old."

He said that further action would be taken against the five policemen whose premises were raided.

The Chief Minister said there were a large number of officials who had remained in Bangalore for more than a decade and after amassing wealth were even dictating terms to the Government. Soon after taking charge, one of his first moves was to identify such officials and transfer them out of the city. These orders were now being given effect to.

With reference to upgrading the infrastructure in the city and the proposal to constitute a Greater Bangalore corporation, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the details were being worked out and would be announced in the budget.

Our Staff Reporter adds:

Bangalore Police Commissioner Ajai Kumar Singh on Wednesday placed under suspension four inspectors from Bangalore who were arrested by the Lokayukta police on Tuesday on charges of possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

Mr. Singh told The Hindu that after receiving a report from the Lokayukta on the raids conducted on the residences and offices of the four inspectors and their arrest, he placed the accused officials under suspension.

The suspended officials are Koramangala inspector Mir Arif Ali, Yeshwanthapur inspector P. Shivanna, Central Crime Branch inspector Shami-ur-Rehman and the VVIP Security inspector N. Narayanaswamy.

Meanwhile, Director-General and Inspector-General of Police B.S. Sial said similar action would be initiated against Deputy Superintendent of Police (Doddaballapur subdivision), Bangalore Rural district, N. Krishnappa, who too was arrested by the Lokyaukta police on Tuesday. Mr. Sial said the Lokayukta report on Mr. Krishnappa was awaited.

When asked for his reaction on the Lokayukta action against the police officials, the State police chief said: "They are not police officials in the true sense. I am happy with what the Lokayukta has done."

Mr. Singh said the corrupt officials must face the music and he welcomed the "cleansing operation" by the Lokayukta.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu