Latest news with #AllIndiaServices(Conduct)Rules
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Assets case: Court rejects vigilance clean chit to ADGP
Thiruvananthapuram : The Special Vigilance Court here on Thursday rejected the vigilance department's report that exonerated ADGP M R Ajith Kumar in the disproportionate assets case, citing that the inquiry was "incomplete" and lacking in essential procedures. The court directed the recording of the statement of petitioner Adv Neyyattinkara Nagaraju, who sought a proper investigation of allegations against the additional director general of police, before deciding whether to order a fresh probe. After examining the report approved by the govt, it said the vigilance inquiry — conducted by a special unit on the state govt's directive — failed to meet even basic investigative standards. It noted that the officer's annual asset statements and income tax returns from 1994 to 2025 were never collected, while the raids on his residence and flat yielded no critical documents. There was no valuation certificate for gold, silver, diamonds and other valuables, despite the possibility of such an assessment by relevant authorities. The court further observed that bank accounts, fixed deposit receipts and bank lockers were not examined, nor was permission under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, produced for the purchase or sale of movable and immovable assets. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Authorities like the registration IG and the land revenue commissioner were never contacted to identify undisclosed assets. The investigators also failed to collect call detail records from nodal officers or analyse the call and tower location data of the accused through the hi-tech enquiry cell, it said. No clear distinction was made between legitimate income and alleged unexplained wealth, and the percentage of asset growth over the period was never calculated. It also cited the failure to trace the teak logs allegedly removed from the Malappuram SP office and accused the vigilance of deliberately withholding incriminating evidence. A key omission flagged by the court was the disregard for the testimony of the Vanchiyoor SBI home loan chief manager that the construction of a multi-storeyed residence by the accused in Kowdiar was a Rs 3.58-crore project — a figure absent from the final report. The vigilance probe, which followed allegations raised by former MLA P V Anwar, concluded that the property transactions and construction records were in order and there was no proof of illegal wealth accumulation. The officer had courted controversies earlier too, with allegations coming up over his role in last year's Pooram sabotage row, his meetings with RSS leaders, his tractor ride to Sabarimala and links with a gold smuggling racket. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
New Indian Express
04-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Lokayukta writes to CS recommending action against IPS officer
BENGALURU: Lokayukta Justice BS Patil has written to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh recommending action against IPS officer Srinath Mahadeva Joshi, ex-SP of Lokayukta, in an extortion case. The Lokayukta said, prima facie, the anti-corruption agency's probe showed that the IPS officer colluded with the dismissed head constable Ningappa and violated the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968. It appears that Joshi, allegedly, made criminal conspiracy to collect illegal gratification by threatening the state government officials, who have amassed wealth. There are audio clips of the conversation between them about the collection of money, and the bribe money collected was used to invest in cryptocurrency to convert the black money into white, said the Lokayukta in his letter to the CS. Ningappa, who met Joshi in January 2025, asked him to speak to the Joint Director of the Excise Department, Nagarajappa, claiming that the latter was his uncle and gather information about Deputy Commissioner of Excise Rangappa. Subsequently, on May 8, Ningappa sent a WhatsApp message to Joshi, 'Today discuss with the inspector tomorrow final 25 kg sir' (Sic). At the same time, Ningappa spoke to the Excise Officials and informed Joshi through a WhatsApp message that they had agreed to give money. Here, the code word 'kg' meant Rs 1 lakh, the Lokayukta narrated in the letter to the CS, said highly-placed sources. The CDR has also revealed that Ningappa frequently visited the Lokayukta office and had constant contact with Joshi. Further, Ningappa sent a WhatsApp message to Joshi that the money collected from the government officials has to be invested in cryptocurrency to convert black into white. This was neither denied nor rejected by Joshi. When the mobile phone of Ningappa was scrutinised, 24 crypto wallets were found. The probe further revealed that Rs 4.92 crore has been invested in 13 wallets. What is interesting is that Ningappa used to check Joshi's crypto wallet to inform him about the loss and profit on a daily basis. This was possible because Joshi had sent his crypto wallet screenshot to him. Updating time to time about how much money has been invested, Ningapa further asked Joshi to invest in the crypto wallet. Now, Rs 4.92 crore invested in cryptocurrency has been frozen and kept under suspension. We still need to find out the source of the said money, and the probe is continuing to find out how much money Joshi has invested using the proceedings of the crime, sources said. The Lokayukta has also attached the probe report of his Additional Director General of Police, which contains the WhatsApp chats. The response from the CS is awaited, sources said.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Lokayukta recommends action against ex-SP for involvement in extortion racket
After the arrest of Ningappa Sawant, a former head constable, a fortnight ago, the Karnataka Lokayukta mentioned former Bengaluru Lokayukta SP Srinath Joshi M. as co-accused and has written to the Chief Secretary to take action against him as per the All India Services (Conduct) Rules. A probe allegedly revealed that Ningappa, who has proximity with Joshi, used to target government officials posing as Lokayukta officers and extort money threatening to foist cases against them. Lokayukta officials said preliminary findings established the link of the accused IPS officer, Joshi, which violates the service rules. The Lokayukta has also asked the government to submit an action taken report. According to an official release, even though there were no complaints, the Lokayukta, based on the information, took up a case and registered an FIR against the accused under the PC Act. Investigations revealed that Ningappa sent intimidating WhatsApp messages to officials, allegedly demanding bribes using the codeword 'KG', and the probe found that the accused had opened 24 crypto wallets to invest in cryptocurrency to convert the black money into white. Analysis of the accused's mobile also revealed that 13 out of 24 crypto wallets were found to have transactions amounting to over ₹4.92 crore. The Lokayukta also announced that it has set up an 'internal monitoring wing' to keep a check on erring officials. It also asked the government to appoint judicial and other officers. Earlier, Lokayukta officials submitted a proposal to set up such a wing using the officials transferred from Anti Anti-Corruption Bureau to monitor internal irregularities, but the proposal was turned down by the government. However, with Lokayukta having over 1900 staff and considering the increasing number of complaints and cases, especially against the police officials, it has become necessary to have an internal monitoring cell for a free and fair probe. Hence, the Lokayukta has set up a unit temporarily and has asked the government to sanction a judicial officials and required staff to head the probe, sources said . Taking serious note of the extortion cases through impersonators, the Lokayukta said that as many as 41 FIRs were registered across the State.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Police officers told not to post photos in uniform on social media
Police officers in Tamil Nadu have been directed not to post their photographs in uniform in social media handles. They have also been told to refrain from sharing confidential information and details of criminal cases in interviews to Television/YouTube channels, podcasts etc in personal capacity. In an order issued to all officers in the rank of Superintendent of Police and above in the State, the Director-General of Police and Head of Police Force Shankar Jiwal said it had come to notice that some officers were posting official matters, including important duties and responsibilities, and their photographs in official uniform, on their personal social media handles. A few officers had given interviews to social media channels in their personal capacity and shared official information relating to cases, victims, accused persons, etc. 'It has also come to the knowledge that some officers attend private functions in official uniform and share sensitive official information,' Mr. Jiwal said and referred to the All India Services (Conduct) Rules and the Tamil Nadu Subordinate Police Officers' Conduct Rules which restrained them from doing so. Mr. Jiwal said going by the conduct rules a police officer invited or intending to participate in a television programme or deliver a broadcast talk should intimate to the government of the particulars relating to the programme or the subject on which he/she proposed to talk. If need be, the entire content to be published should be submitted to the authorities concerned for approval. The DGP said wherever required, approval of senior officers in hierarchy should be obtained by subordinate officers for vetting content and obtaining clearance for participation in private functions and interviews. In case of any violation, action would be taken under the provisions of the conduct rules. 'All officers shall strictly adhere to these instructions and also issue necessary instructions to others within their jurisdiction in this regard,' he said. According to police sources, another advisory was issued asking Commissioners/Superintendents of Police to give short video interviews explaining the content of official press releases issued on various matters.
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Karnataka Govt suspends senior IFS officer R Gokul over stand on forest land donated to HMT Ltd in Bengaluru
The Karnataka Government Wednesday suspended a senior Indian Forest Service officer, R Gokul, for allegedly facilitating the handover of forest land worth nearly Rs 14,000 crore, held by the public sector company Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in Bengaluru, to third parties, including private entities. The government issued the suspension order stating that 'in exercise of the powers under Rule 3(1) (a) of the All India Service (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969, Sri R. Gokul, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Director General, EMPRI, Bengaluru, is placed under suspension with immediate effect, pending inquiry.' The reason for Gokul's suspension has been cited as his actions regarding the 'denotification of lands granted to HMT measuring 443 Acres 6 guntas situated at Peenya Jalahalli Plantation'. According to the government order, an interlocutory application was filed by forest officials before the Supreme Court in 2020 'without obtaining the approval of the then minister-in-charge or sanction from the state cabinet' for permission to denotify 443.6 acres of land granted to HMT at the Peenya Jalahalli Plantation. Initially, the state government issued notices to Sandeep Dave, a retired IAS officer and the former additional chief secretary for Forest, Ecology and Environment; Vijay Kumar Gogi, retired IFS officer and the former principal secretary for Forest, Ecology and Environment; Smitha Bijjur, IFS, ex-principal secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment and Gokul. The government has reported receiving replies to the notices from three of the four officers (other than Sandeep Dave) but said that Gokul had written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after receiving his notice 'seeking protection' in an illegal mining case from the 2010 period where he is a key witness against a mafia that was operated by political figures. The IFS officer also did not obtain permission or inform the government when he filed an 'Intervention Application (113311/2025) in the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India against IA (190307/2024 WP (C) 337/1995) filed by the State Government in the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India for withdrawal of the IA (60477/2020 in WP (C) 337/1995) related to the de-notification of lands belonging to HMT Ltd,' said the suspension order. The government order said the conduct of Gokul 'is in violation of Rule 17 of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, and the State Government is prima facie satisfied that it is necessary' to place him under suspension with immediate effect. Last week, Karnataka Minister for Forest and Environment Eshwar Khandre announced that the government had recommended action against two serving IFS officers, one retired IFS officer, and one retired IAS officer for filing of an application in the Supreme Court 'seeking permission for denotification of HMT forest land worth over Rs. 14,000 crore'. 'This plantation is owned by HMT. It is illegal for the organisation to sell to government departments/organisations and private individuals. However, the fact that forest officials did not make any attempt to recover the land and, without even drawing the attention of the Cabinet, submitted an Interim Application (IA) to the Supreme Court seeking denotification in 2020 is a cause for doubt,' Khandre has said. The controversy pertains to 599 acres of land in a plantation in the Peenya Jalahalli region in North Bengaluru, which was declared a forest in 1896 and was later transferred to HMT in the 1960s to create industrial infrastructure through a donation deed by the district collector. In recent years, large portions of the land given to HMT by the forest department for industrial purposes have been used to facilitate major real estate projects through the connivance of state and central government officials. Over the last year, a dispute arose over the land between the Union Heavy Industries Ministry headed by H D Kumaraswamy, who is looking at monetising the land to resuscitate the fortunes of HMT, and the state forest department, which is trying to recover the HMT land by arguing that it remains a forest land. In November last year, the Karnataka Government issued notices to the forest officials concerned over the filing of the IA in the SC on the HMT forest land. In January this year, the state government ordered that since 281 acres of the 599 acres of land donated to HMT is vacant land 'without any building,' the forest department must take possession of the vacant forest land. Over 200 acres of the HMT land in Bengaluru have been handed over to private players and others, even as HMT Ltd has collapsed in the last four decades. One of the major transfers of land happened between 1999 and 2004 when the Congress was in power, leading to the construction of apartment complexes by some of the big real estate developers of Bengaluru.
