Supreme Court Reinstates Corruption Case Against Karnataka Engineer, Overturns High Court’s Quashing Order
The Supreme Court ruled that preliminary enquiries aren’t mandatory before registering FIRs in corruption cases, setting aside the Karnataka High Court’s order that quashed disproportionate assets proceedings against a BESCOM executive engineer. The bench held that a detailed source report submitted to the Superintendent of Police sufficed as prima facie evidence, making a separate preliminary enquiry unnecessary. The case involves alleged illicit assets worth ₹6.64 crore accumulated over 25 years of service. The judgment reinforces the legal position established in *Lalita Kumari* and *T.N. Sudhakar Reddy* cases, clarifying that accused public servants have no right to be heard at the FIR stage. The court restored the Lokayukta’s investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
STATE OF KARNATAKA
VERSUS
SRI CHANNAKESHAVA.H.D. & ANR.