Introduction

The Anti-Corruption Bureau is a specialized agency responsible for collection of intelligence with regard to corruption, maintaining liaison with the various Departments of Government through their Vigilance Officers, enquiries into complaints about bribery and corruption, investigation and prosecution of offences pertaining to bribery and corruption and tasks relating to preventive aspects of corruption. The Bureau handles all cases registered under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Besides this, the Bureau conducts enquiries based on the information/petitions received from various agencies like Government, Lokayukta, etc. and also on the information/petitions received from the public containing specific and verifiable allegations of corruption against Public Servants.

This Bureau was established by the G.O No. DPAR 14 SELOU 2016, Dated 14th March 2016 and functions directly under the administrative control of the DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS (DPAR) of Karnataka state Government. The Bureau is headed by a senior IPS Officer of the rank of Addl. Director General of Police.   An Officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police in turn assists ADGP.   The Bureau is having two S.Ps. i.e., SP, Headquarters and SP, Administration.  The Bureau is divided into 7 Ranges in the State. i.e Central Range, Southern Range, Eastern Range, Western Range, Northern Range, North-Eastern Range, Bellari Range.  Each range is headed by a rank of Superintendent of Police and comprises 3-4 Districts.  Each District has a ACB Police Station headed by Officer of the rank of Dy. Superintendent of Police who is the Station House Officer.   The SHO in turn is assisted by 2 Police Inspectors and team of Police Officers of various ranks.  The Police Inspectors are empowered to investigate the offences under Prevention of Corruption Act.  The Bureau is also having Technical Officers like Engineers, Tahasildars, Finance Officers to look-after various technical, administrative and financial matters. It is also having Legal Cell to tender advice on legal matters and conduct prosecution in Courts.  

The Bureau basically enforces the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The Bureau has Suo-Moto powers to collect information, conduct enquiries and register cases on Public Servants. The Bureau investigates Disproportionate Assets Cases of Criminal Misconduct and Misappropriation.  For every complaint other than trap case, a preliminary enquiry is conducted before registration of FIR.  Apart from this, the Bureau also conducts enquiries in the form of Regular Enquiries, Discreet Enquiries and also conducts Surprise Checks. 

After preliminary enquiry, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, files First Information Report with the concerned jurisdictional special courts and take up investigation.  During investigations, evidences are collected and if the charges are proved, Charge Sheet are filed in the Special Courts for prosecution after obtaining sanction from competent authority.  If the evidence is not enough for launching prosecution in a case, the case is referred to the concerned Departments for initiating Disciplinary Proceedings against the Public Servant for taking further action by dealing with the Public Servant on charges of misconduct, possessing disproportionate assets and violation Karnataka Civil Services (conduct) Rules, 1966. 

Conviction in a Court may lead to dismissal of the convicted Public Servant, whereas in departmental action the Public Servant is awarded a major punishment or a minor punishment depending on the gravity of the delinquency under the Karnataka State Civil (CCA) Rules, 1959. Major punishment involves dismissal, removal, reduction in Rank, withholding of increments with cumulative effect, cut or stoppage of pension for retired employees, etc. Minor punishments are withholding of increments without cumulative effect, censure, recorded warning, etc.