Lokayukta Pushes for Prosecution of Karnataka Congress Leader in Assets Probe

The Karnataka Lokayukta Police have approached Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot seeking permission to prosecute former minister and Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan in a disproportionate assets (DA) case , marking a significant development in a long-running investigation.

According to official sources, investigators have sought the Governor's sanction to file a charge sheet before the Special Lokayukta Court , alleging that Khan amassed assets worth nearly ₹25 crore beyond his known sources of income during the period under scrutiny.

Under Indian law, prosecution of a public servant in certain corruption-related cases requires prior sanction from the competent authority. The Governor's decision will determine whether the Lokayukta can formally proceed with prosecution before the court.

Responding to the development, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said due process should be followed and maintained that "nobody is above the law of the land." He added that he had not yet examined the Lokayukta's findings and would comment further only after reviewing the details.

The case has its origins in the IMA Ponzi scam investigation . During the Enforcement Directorate's probe into the alleged financial fraud, the agency conducted searches at premises linked to Khan in August 2021 . Subsequently, the matter relating to the disproportionate assets allegations was transferred to the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for investigation.

Following the abolition of the ACB in Karnataka, all pending corruption investigations, including this case, were transferred to the Lokayukta Police , which continued the probe.

As part of the investigation, Zameer Ahmed Khan was earlier summoned by the Lokayukta Police for questioning in connection with the alleged assets disproportionate to his known income.

The request for prosecution sanction does not amount to a finding of guilt . It is a mandatory legal step before criminal proceedings can move forward in court. The Governor's decision on the request is now awaited, after which the investigation could enter its next legal phase.