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Karnataka High Court Halts ₹16,000 Crore Smart Meter Proceedings Against Minister K J George

The court froze proceedings until August 20 to await the Lokayukta report on alleged procurement breaches

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The Karnataka high court has temporarily halted the legal proceedings initiated against state energy minister KJ George in connection with the the state’s smart meter tender process. (HT PHOTO)
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Overview

  • The Karnataka High Court granted Minister K J George and two BESCOM officials interim relief by staying the Special Court’s order to register a private criminal complaint over the ₹16,000 crore smart meter tender.
  • Justice M I Arun barred any further legal action until the bench reviews the matter on August 20, directing the Lokayukta to file its investigative report by that date.
  • The defence argues the Special Court violated the Prevention of Corruption Act Section 17A by ordering an investigation without prior sanction for prosecuting public servants.
  • BJP legislators C N Ashwath Narayan, S R Vishwanath and Dheeraj Muniraj, who filed the initial complaint, continue to press for cancellation of the smart meter contract and demand the minister’s resignation.
  • The dispute centres on allegations that the tender was improperly floated solely by BESCOM in September 2024 and awarded to a Davanagere-based shell company in breach of Karnataka’s procurement and KERC regulations.