Bangalore: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that Karnataka Lokayukta police must register an FIR and follow all required procedures before conducting a raid against any public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).

A bench, comprising Justices M Y Iqbal and Vinaki Chandragosh, asked the Lokayukta police to proceed against the public servants only after getting specific complaint and credible information about their corrupt practices. It also said that anti-corruption agencies should follow procedure laid down under the PCA.

The Karnataka Lokayukta police had filed an appeal before the Supreme Court seeking to quash the Karnataka High Court order which stated that the investigating officers under the PCA needed to be thoroughly and properly educated about the legal and scientific methods of investigation which they have to mandatorily adopt in the process of investigation.?The bench dismissed the appeal of the Lokayukta police.

It also upheld the High Court order that the Lokayukta police can raid or arrest officials only after registering a FIR against them.