[VK Sasikala] Home Secy to appear before Court if ACB fails to give sanction: Karnataka High Court

In the case pertaining to allegations of preferential treatment given to politician VK Sasikala while in prison, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the Home Secretary to appear on the next date of hearing if the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) fails to grant sanction to secure the accused persons..A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum said, "30 days time is granted from today to do the needful failing which....Let Home secretary remain present on the next date of hearing after 30 days.".The Court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Chennai-based social worker and educationist KS Gita. The petitioner sought directions to be issued to the authorities for a final report on the alleged corruption that led to Sasikala being granted favours while she was serving her sentence in a multi-crore corruption case..When the matter was taken up for hearing, the Court noted that on July 15, the Director General of Police, after preparing a final report, forwarded the same to the ACB for obtaining sanction in respect of four officers accused of providing preferential treatment to Sasikala in jail. However, the sanction has not been granted so far, the Court recorded. .This attitude of the ACB was strongly criticised by the Court."This Court fails to understand why two months period is required in the matter as all the officers are located in Bengaluru itself." The necessary orders for sanction can be obtained in a day if there is a will to obtain orders in the matter, the Bench added. .The matter will be next heard on October 8. .During a previous hearing, the Court had sought details of the investigation in connection with the FIR registered by the ACB in the matter. .In 2017, the Supreme Court had convicted Sasikala, an aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in a disproportionate assets case. She was sentenced to four years' imprisonment in Bangalore's Parappana Agrahara Jail, after which she was released in January this year..[Breaking]:#DA case: Supreme Court overturns Karnataka HC verdict, Sasikala & Ors to surrender before trial court (Read judgment)