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The cadres of the petitioners in all these cases would differ from petition to petition. Therefore, they are all referred to as officers of BBMP. These petitions form two wings - one retired officers and the other serving officers of the BBMP. But, the issue that runs through the stream of all these petitions is the same. The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force ('BMTF' for short) registers a FIR in Crime No.4 of 2011 against unknown persons alleging offences under Sections 420, 406, 409, 465, 468, 471, 477A r/w 120B of the IPC and Section 23 of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act, 1999. The allegation in the FIR was that certain investigation was conducted with regard to implementation of works undertaken by the BBMP in Malleshwaram, Gandhinagar and Rajarajeshwari Nagar. The complaint though did not name any specific allegation against any particular official, the complaint alleged huge irregularity and illegality committed by the BBMP officials in collusion with contractors of the aforesaid areas and the illegality was to the tune of Rs.500/- crores. Based upon the investigation a reference was made by the Commissioner of the BBMP to the competent authority in the Ministry of Urban Development and later it was opined that the matter be referred to the Superintendent of Police, BMTF to take up further investigation and submit a report to the Government. The technical wing of the BMTF which had investigated into the matter investigated the works undertaken by the BBMP in those areas between 2008-09 and 2011-12 and certain information with regard to the bill register. Pursuant to the collection of the aforesaid material, prima facie, the BMTF opined that a crime needs to be registered against officials of the BBMP and further investigation should be carried out. Therefore, the BMTF registers a crime in Crime No.4 of 2011 and investigation in respect of the alleged irregularity and even misappropriation in asphalting of roads in the aforesaid areas was sought to be conducted by the BMTF.

4. In the year 2011, the investigation from the hands of the BMTF was handed over to the Crime Investigation Department ('CID' for short) in terms of an order dated 28-11-2011. Later, the CID on becoming the investigating agency investigates into the matter and on conclusion of investigation filed a charge sheet on 7.01.2021 against all these petitioners for the afore-quoted offences and the Special Court is now seized of the matter in Special C.C.No.118 of 2021. Filing of charge sheets and taking of cognizance of the offences by the Special Court is what drives the petitioners to this Court in the subject petitions.