The Karnataka Lokayukta has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil in connection with allegations of illegal asset accumulation. The move comes following directions from the Supreme Court of India.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, social activist Sujit Mulgund stated that he has been pursuing the case against Patil since 2012. “I have consistently raised concerns regarding the MLA’s disproportionate assets and submitted documentary evidence to the Lokayukta. Although Mr. Patil had previously obtained a High Court order preventing the filing of an FIR, I challenged this in the Supreme Court,” Mulgund said.
He added that despite multiple investigation reports being filed over the years, earlier Lokayukta officials had refrained from registering an FIR. “The process was delayed deliberately, and the matter was stalled for a long time,” he alleged.
According to Mulgund, the Supreme Court recently pulled up the Karnataka Lokayukta for the delay in acting on the complaint. This intervention finally led to the registration of the FIR.
The case pertains to assets allegedly acquired by Patil and his family members that exceed known sources of income. Further investigation is now expected to proceed under the supervision of Lokayukta authorities.