Lokayukta ticks off lawmakers in Karnataka for false declarations

The Lokayukta Karnataka has ticked off lawmakers in the State for submitting false declarations of their assets and liabilities.

The Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde said his office had found out that over 75 per cent of the legislators in the State, including Ministers in the JD (S)-BJP coalition Government, had submitted “insufficient” and “false information” in their declarations on assets and liabilities.

Though all the legislators, except one MLA, had submitted their declarations, which are mandatory under law, Santhosh Hegde regretted that most of the declarations contained incorrect data.

Stating that he would make public the names of the lawmakers guilty of falsifying declarations, Santhosh Hegde said he would also submit a report in the regard to Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and Chairman of the Legislative Council.

“The members will be given time upto June 20 to resubmit correct information. If they don’t’ furnish correct information even after 60 days, criminal cases may be filed against them as the Lokayukta Act”, Santhosh Hegde warned.

He pointed out that it was criminal offence if an elected representative did not declare his assets and liabilities under Sections 176 and 177 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).