SIT chief alleges H D Kumaraswamy of hindering probe, lodges complaint

IPS officer Chandra Sekhar, who heads a Special Investigation Team (SIT) at the Lokayukta, has accused Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy of misusing his powers to obstruct investigations in cases against him.

The development comes two weeks after Kumaraswamy accused the SIT head of corruption and the latter wrote to his officers, asking them not to feel demotivated by the Union minister's tirade against him.

Chandra Sekhar is overseeing the SIT investigations in illegal mining cases, including two against Kumaraswamy.

In the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Union Minister and the IPS officer, Chandra Sekhar confirmed to the DH that he filed a police complaint with the Sanjay Nagar police on Friday, resulting in a non-cognisable report.

In his complaint, Chandra Sekhar accused Kumaraswamy of “illegally obtaining” investigation reports concerning him, as well as documents related to communication between the SIT and the Governor regarding prosecution sanction against the Union minister. The SIT had sought this sanction from the Governor in November 2023. After reviewing the documents, the Governor returned them to the SIT seeking clarifications, which the team subsequently provided.

Chandra Sekhar mentions in his complaint.that "he (Kumaraswamy) knows the precise details of the communication between the SIT and the Governor. Moreover, he possesses the same documents that the SIT has collected as evidence against him. How is that possible?”

Chandra Sekhar also included in his complaint that Kumaraswamy accused him of continuing in the Karnataka Cadre based on false medical records from Bowring Hospital, a claim he vehemently denied.

Referring to a press conference held by Kumaraswamy last month, Chandra Sekhar said in his complaint, “He (Kumaraswamy) also mentioned that he has made efforts to conduct my background verification to dig up dirt. This constitutes an open threat to an investigating officer by an accused! It must be investigated whether he has abused his position as a Union Cabinet Minister to illegally obtain these documents."

Further responding to Kumaraswamy's allegation that he built a multi-story structure on a stormwater drain in his wife's name, Chandra Sekhar stated, “Even the worst of criminals and sinners keep women and children out of their vendetta, but the desperation of this accused can be gauged from this absolutely false and malicious allegation made by him against my wife. This is absolutely false and has been done to cause injury to my reputation.”

Chandra Sekhar emphasised that the corruption allegations made by Kumaraswamy against him are baseless. “In effect, this accused, who is incidentally a Union Cabinet Minister, is threatening to undermine my professional career by leveraging his influence in the Central Government,” he asserted in his complaint.

Additionally, he noted that Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil and his associate Suresh Babu have made claims aimed at intimidating him and damaging his dignity and career.

Chandra Sehkar has demanded a probe into Kumaraswamy possessing documents that are confidential. Further, he has sought for initiating action against Nikhil and Babu.

At the conclusion of his letter, reflecting on power and politics, Chandra Sekhar quoted Martin Luther King Jr.: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." In his previous letter, he had made a reference to George Bernard Shaw, stating, “Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.”

Why he chose to file a complaint two weeks after Kumaraswamy's press conference? Chandra Sekhar mentions in his complaint he that it took time to gather all the necessary documents.