HC directs Karnataka govt to permit probe against Rohini Sindhuri IAS
The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government’s Chief Secretary to grant mandatory approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act so that the Lokayukta police can register an FIR and investigate senior IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri. The case stems from a complaint by activist N.R. Ravichandre Gowda alleging Sindhuri, while serving as Mysuru Deputy Commissioner and Managing Director of the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation in 2021, approved the procurement of 1,471,458 eco‑friendly cloth bags at ₹52 per piece even though the market price was about ₹13, causing an estimated loss of ₹5.88 crore to the state exchequer. The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms had previously refused approval for a criminal inquiry in May 2025 after a departmental probe, effectively blocking investigation under Section 17A, which requires prior government sanction for probes into official acts of public servants. Justice M. Nagaprasanna held that Section 17A is meant to “prevent frivolous harassment not to foreclose accountability,” and found that the complaint, supported by documents, prima facie alleged abuse of office and financial loss. The court emphasized that serious corruption allegations cannot be “summarily extinguished at the threshold” and cautioned against conflating internal departmental inquiries with criminal investigations, which have different purposes and standards. Criticizing the government for failing to meaningfully reconsider sanction, the bench declined to remand the matter again and instead ordered that approval be accorded within four weeks so the Lokayukta can proceed with registration of an FIR and a full probe.
