Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj on Sunday virtually questioned the judicial probe ordered by the Yeddyurappa government into alleged land scams, saying that police was the only competent authority to investigate any offences.
“The only forum competent to investigate offences is police. Nobody else has the power. Lokayukta has a police, the government has a police. Wherever there is a crime, it may be investigated by the police,” he said while citing a Supreme Court ruling when asked by reporters about the judicial probe. When asked about the dual probe into the denotification and land scam involving Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, he said “But this confusion is being created deliberately.”
“Lokayukta is investigating the issue, it will unearth the truth. I have no further comments on the issue,” he said on the sidelines of a function.
Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde had objected to the state government ordering the judicial probe headed by a retired High Court judge when the matter was pending before him.
Asked about the land scam which led to the resignation of state housing minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, Bhardwaj said,”I don’t want to react about what is happening.
“Ministers are also not listening to my advice. When I raised the illegal mining issue, there was criticism that I was misusing my position. I will leave it to people to judge.”
