Karnataka: Governor Gehlot demands inquiry intro leak of confidential Lokayukta proceeding

The tussle between the Karnataka state government and Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has escalated as the governor has expressed displeasure over confidential proceedings between the Lokayukta organisation and Raj Bhavan being discussed in the state cabinet. In a letter dated September 8, the governor raised concerns with the state’s Chief Secretary about disclosing sensitive information meant to remain confidential. The letter calls for an honest and swift investigation into the leakage of this information.

The tension between the state government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and the governor has grown since the governor granted permission to prosecute land allotment issues involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). This recent letter follows another one in which the governor sought an explanation regarding a complaint filed by PS Nataraj, alleging illegal activities by the Chief Minister in connection with MUDA land allotment.

The governor’s latest letter focuses on how confidential proceedings between the Lokayukta and Raj Bhavan—about the prosecution of leaders such as former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Sasikala Jolle, Murugesh Nirani, and Janardhana Reddy—were reportedly discussed in a cabinet meeting. The governor noted that the Lokayukta is an independent body not controlled by the government, raising serious concerns about how such sensitive information was discussed in the cabinet and subsequently leaked to the media.

The governor demanded a detailed report from the Chief Secretary, including all relevant documents about the cabinet discussion of these confidential proceedings. He called for an urgent inquiry to determine how this information was leaked and why it was discussed in a forum where it should not have been addressed.

The governor also pointed out that only copies of the 16th and 17th cabinet meeting agenda were sent to Raj Bhavan. Still, the resolutions adopted during these meetings were not initially provided. Of particular concern was the resolution of an additional agenda from the August 22 cabinet meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, which was not sent to Raj Bhavan until August 27. Despite this, some decisions from the meeting are still missing, and the governor has requested that the remaining documents be submitted without further delay.

In response to the governor’s concerns, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT) has written to the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) seeking permission to investigate how the confidential information was leaked. The governor has instructed the Lokayukta to thoroughly probe the matter and find out the source of the leak. Raj Bhavan has also provided directives to the Lokayukta as of September 4 to expedite the investigation.

The governor’s inquiry has fueled the growing tension between the Raj Bhavan and the Congress-led state government. Governor Gehlot is particularly concerned about how confidential communications between his office and the Lokayukta, related to the prosecution of opposition leaders like HD Kumaraswamy, were made public. These confidential proceedings were intended to address prosecution requests against several prominent figures, and the leak has led to accusations of political interference and a failure in upholding the integrity of the cabinet’s discussions.

Key Questions Raised by the Governor’s Letter:

• Cabinet Discussions of Confidential Matters: Why and how were the secret proceedings between the Lokayukta and Raj Bhavan discussed in the state cabinet?
• Leak of Lokayukta Correspondence: How was the letter sent by the Lokayukta to the governor seeking permission to prosecute opposition leaders leaked?
• Confidential Correspondence with Raj Bhavan: The governor reiterated that his correspondence with the Lokayukta regarding the prosecution of HD Kumaraswamy, Sasikala Jolle, Murugesh Nirani, and Janardhana Reddy was confidential and should not have been disclosed.

This episode is the latest in a series of clashes between the state government and the governor, with both sides accusing each other of undermining institutional integrity. The governor’s concerns about the lack of transparency and breaches of confidentiality have added to the friction, while the state government has maintained that its actions are within legal bounds.

The BJP closely monitors the situation and has supported the governor’s actions. The party plans to use the governor’s report to pressure the state government, possibly seeking intervention from the Union Home Ministry for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe, citing potential links between the case and activities from neighbouring Kerala.

The conflict underscores the increasingly fraught relations between the Congress-led Karnataka government and Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, with no sign of resolution. As both sides exchange letters, the possibility of legal or institutional action looms large.