The Karnataka Chief Minister has appointed Justice Santosh Hegde, a former Supreme Court Justice as the new “Lokayukta”, the corrutption watchdog. The term of the previous Lokaykta had expired at the end of June and there was speculation as to whether a new one would be appointed. The ex-Lokayukta, Justice Venkatachala had created waves by going after allegedly corrupt government officials, conducting raids, siezing property, cash, jewellry etc. in the full glare of media publicity.

Justice Hegde has pledged to clean up the Lokayukta’s office (which itself is accused of corruption) as his first order of business.