Many graft cases would have come out if I had suo motu power: Hegde

“(As per Karnataka Lokayukta Act) Investigation in regard to political bosses holding office cannot be done suo motu,” the Team Anna member said.

“I had demanded suo motu power (which was not given). If that was the case,many,many things… many,many political leaders could have been investigated… may be discreetly or otherwise and many things would have come out.

“From what’s happening now (corruption scandals in Karnataka),you know the possibilities (many would have been caught),” said Hegde,whose report on illegal mining submitted to the government on July 27 cost an indicted B S Yeddyurappa the chief minister’s chair.

He also said that sanctions for the prosecution of officers,who were raided,were not being given promptly and in many cases,not given at all by the government citing flimsy grounds.

“For some reason or other,the government always looked at Lokayukta very suspiciously,” Hegde said.

He strongly favoured the introduction of citizen’s charter in all government offices like sub-registrar,revenue and corporations frequented by ordinary people,so that grievances are redressed and work done in a time-bound manner,failing which officials are liable to be punished.