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¨sÁUÀ– 4J 08 2025 ಪ 17 1947) . 547
Part – IVA BENGALURU, MONDAY, 08 SEPTEMBER, 2025 BHADRAPADA 17, SHAKAVARSHA 1947) No. 547
GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA
No. FD-CAM/50/2025 Karnataka Government Secretariat,
M. S. Building,
Bengaluru, Date: 03.09.2025.
NOTIFICATION
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 21A of the Karnataka
Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act, 2004
(Karnataka Act 30 of 2005), the Government of Karnataka hereby makes the
following scheme, namely:-
SCHEME
1. Title and commencement. - (1) This Scheme may be called the
Incentivization for Whistleblowers and informants providing original information
leading to attachment of assets of Financial Establishments Scheme, 2025.
(2) This scheme shall come into force with effect from the date of its
publication in the Karnataka Gazette.
2. Definitions.- (1) In this Scheme, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "Act" means the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in
Financial Establishments Act, 2004 (Karnataka Act 30 of 2005);
(b) "Absolute attachment" shall have the same meaning as in sub-section (2)
of section 5;
(c) "Asset" means anything of any value, whether tangible, or intangible
moveable or immoveable that can be liquidated;
(d) “Benami transaction" shall have the same meaning as in the Prohibition
of Benami Property Transactions Act 1988 (Central Act 45 of 1988);
(e) “Form” means the Form appended to this Scheme;
(f) "Informant" means an individual who voluntarily furnishes Original
Information to the Competent Officer as specified in Form I;
(1)2
(g) "Informant Reward Committee " means the Committee constituted under
clause 11 of this Scheme;
(h) “Informant Reward Authority" means the Competent Authority, not below
the rank of Secretary to Government, to grant reward under clause 12
of this Scheme;
(i) "Original Information" means information about the activities and assets
of a defaulting Financial Establishment and includes the directors,
partners, promoters, managers or members and former directors,
partners, promoters who have demitted office or resigned from the
establishment or any other person who is suspected to be complicit in
the activities of the Financial Establishment,-
(a) not known to the Competent Authority or Investigating Officer appointed
by the Government or from any other source, except where the informant is
the original source of the information;
(b) is credible and directly relatable to the activities of the defaulting financial
establishment, for identification, attachment and realization of the assets
of such defaulter.
(c) is an attested document.
(d) is not based on hearsay.
(e) is not proven after enquiry, to be false, misleading or malicious.
(j) "Reserve price" means the price fixed by a Competent Authority below which
the asset shall not be sold or auctioned; and
(k) "Whistle blower" means a person who provides information about illegal,
unethical, or harmful activities about the financial establishment in public
interest and is not a person participating in or complicit in the activities of the
financial establishment acting fraudulently.
(2) Words and expressions used, but not defined in this Scheme shall have
the same meaning as respectively assigned to them in the Act.
3. Applicability and scope.- This Scheme shall regulate the sanction and
payment of reward to a whistle blower or to an informant who provides Original
Information disclosing deposit-related illegal activities, which directly leads to the
identification and attachment of assets owned by a financial establishment and its
colluders or about the assets of a defaulting Financial Establishment and its
colluders and such information results in the absolute attachment and collection
of unrecovered monies or assets in cases where,-
(i) the asset is acquired after the date of initiation of the defaulting Financial
Establishment and the defaulter is an individual, company, cooperative
society, Limited liability Partnership, Trust or Non Governmental
organization (NGO) or whether owner, promoter, partner, director, manager
or member or any other person of the said Financial Establishment which,-
(a) is not traceable or is absconding;
(b) has made or is attempting to make a malafide transfer within the
meaning of section 13;3
(c) has made or enabled "benami" transaction or carried out large cash
transactions;
(d) has obtained returns in excess of the total deposit made in all schemes
operated by the Financial Establishment;
(e) has derived benefit from any assets vested under section 3 of the Act
without authority of the special court.
4. Whistle-blower or Informant eligible for reward.- (1) A person shall be
considered to be an “Whistleblower” eligible for reward in accordance with this
Scheme if he furnishes Original Information disclosing deposit-related illegal
activities, of a Financial Establishment, which directly leads to initiation of action
under the Act.
(2) A person shall be considered to be an informant eligible for reward in
accordance with this Scheme if he furnishes Original Information disclosing
deposit-related illegal activities, which directly leads to the identification and
attachment of assets of financial establishment and its colluders or in relation to
the asset of a defaulter concerning the "money trail" of deposits received.
(3) The claim of reward shall be confined to cases where recovery of dues
realization of the sale proceeds of the asset may be made in pursuance of the
information so provided by the Informant. The information provided must be
supported by documents pointing to the ownership or transfer of the asset with
reasonable connection to the money trail and shall be specific and actionable.
5. Submission of Information.- (1) The information shall be submitted by
the informant in Form-I along with a statement or declaration in Form-II to the
Information Reward Committee in a sealed envelope super scribing - "Information
for grant of reward under Recovery Proceedings" in person.
(2) If information is not accompanied by a claim for reward, it may be
submitted online at the official exclusive e-mail ID to be notified for this purpose.
6. Examination of Information (1) Upon receipt of Original Information, the
Information Reward Committee shall verify the details so provided. If the details
are complete in the specified formats, the Information Reward Committee shall
enter or cause to be entered the information into the register kept for the said
purpose. In case the details are not submitted in the specified forms or information
is incomplete, the Information Reward Committee shall within one week's time from
receipt of such incomplete details, advise the informant to furnish the complete
details as specified. Upon receipt of complete details and entering the same into
the register, the Information Reward Authority shall forward within a week of the
information so received along with documents and forms to the Competent
Authority having jurisdiction.
(2) Upon receipt of complete information by the Competent Authority having
jurisdiction in the case, the same shall be examined further to decide the nature of
actionable information. At this stage the Competent Authority shall get the
valuation of the asset done and ascertain the legal title to the property and get
information about encumbrances if any. The informant shall provide further
documents or information or render assistance, if any, required by the Competent
Authority.4
(3) Then the Competent Authority shall submit the details to Informat
Reward Committee directly. The Original Information along with documents shall
be kept in the safe custody by such Officer as required by the Recovery Officer
having jurisdiction in the case.
(4) An Informant Code shall be assigned to the Informer, which shall be secret
and all correspondence and documentation shall be according to the said
Informant Code.
(5) Where Original Information is furnished by the informant in the
expectation of a reward, the informant shall be required to appear before the
Information Reward Committee or the Competent Authority or the concerned
District Magistrate, at the option of the informant as and when called upon to sign
the Forms I and II again for the purpose of ascertaining his identity and veracity of
the information so provided. No reward shall be admissible if the informant refuses
to appear or refuses to provide required information or documents etc.
7. Undertaking by the Informant.- When an informant furnishes any
information or documents in the expectation of a reward, following written
undertaking shall be taken from him which shall be part of Form-II, namely:-
(1) That he is aware that the information or documents furnished by him
does not ipso facto confer on him the right to any reward and that he shall be
bound by the decision of the Information Reward Authority in this regard.
(2) That he is aware that the extent of reward depends on the precision of
the information and realised value of the asset based on the documents furnished
by him.
(3) That he shall provide further documents or information or render
assistance, if any, as and when required.
(4) That the reward shall pertain only to the dues recovered or realized which
are directly attributable to the information supplied by him.
(5) That the provisions of sections 212, 217 and 248 of the Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act 45 of 2023) have been read by him or explained to him
and he is aware that if the information furnished by him is false and is intended to
cause harm or injury to any other person directly or indirectly, then, he shall be
liable to prosecution.
(6) That he accepts that the "Information Reward Authority" is under no
obligation to enter into any correspondence regarding the details of any recovery
as a result of his information.
(7) That he accepts that the payment of reward is ex-gratia at the discretion
of the authority competent to grant rewards and he has no right to challenge the
correctness of the decision in any court of law;
(8) That the information provided by him is Original Information as
understood in this Scheme.
(9) That he is not a person complicit in the activities of the Financial
Establishment.
(10) That any disclosure he makes is for benefit of depositors not complicit
with or colluding with defaulting financial establishment and not for private gain.5
8. Reward Amount.-
(1) The reward for Whistle blowers may be granted in single stage. The
reward amount shall depend on the directly attributable original
information supplied/received by the Whistleblower resulting in initiation
of action under Act and reward amount shall be as approved by the
"Informant Reward Authority" and shall not exceed Rs. 2,00,000 (Rupees
two lakh only)
(2) Reward Amount for Informants,-
(i) The reward for Informants may be granted in two stages. such as,
Interim and Final. The Interim reward amount shall not exceed two
per-cent of the reserve price of the asset regarding which information
was furnished or Rs. 2,00,000 (Rupees Two lakh only), whichever is
less, as approved by the "Informant Reward Authority" from time to
time.
(ii) Final reward amount shall not exceed five per-cent of the dues
recovered and recovery of which is directly attributable to the Original
Information supplied by the informant or Rs. 5,00,000 (Rupees Five
lakh only), whichever is less or such higher amount as approved by the
"Informant Reward Authority" from time to time.
9. Stage of Reward. - (1) Any proposal or recommendation and approval for
Interim reward may be made only if the asset regarding which information was
furnished is found to be unencumbered and reserve price of the same is fixed after
attachment.
(2) Any proposal or recommendation and approval for Interim reward may be
made only if the asset regarding which information was furnished is found to be
encumbered and then the award amount shall be decided based on the residual
realizable value of that particular assets (Reserve Value less encumbered loans if
any).
(3) Any proposal or recommendation and approval for Final reward may be
made after realization of the sale proceeds of the asset for which information was
received.
10. Reward as Ex-gratia payment.- (1) Reward in accordance with these
Scheme is discretionary and shall be in the nature of ex-gratia payment subject to
the provisions of this Scheme and shall be granted at the discretion of the authority
competent to grant reward. The decision of “Informant Reward Authority" shall be
final.
(2) The reward under this Scheme shall not be assigned to any other person
by the informant. The “Informant Reward Authority” may however grant reward to
heirs or nominees of an informant in the event of his death before payment of the
reward.
11. Constitution and Functions of Informant Reward Committee.- (1)
For the purpose of recommending the eligibility of reward and the amount thereof,
there shall be constituted an Informant Reward Committee comprising of the
concerned Competent Authority having jurisdiction in the matter who shall be6
Head of the Committee, Public Prosecutor of the District or Taluka and Accounts
Officer of the respective sub-Division nominated by the Informant Reward
Authority shall be the members of the Committee.
(2) The Informant Reward Committee shall submit its recommendations to
the Informant Reward Authority" on the following matters, namely:-
(i) Eligibility of Whistle-blower or Informant for reward.
(ii) Determination of amount of reward payable to Whistle-blower or
Informant.
12. Competent Authority to Grant Reward.- The Informant Reward
Authority shall be the Competent Authority to grant the reward by passing an order
in this regard and for all purposes of the Scheme shall be the Special Officer and
Competent Authority (SPLOCA) appointed by the Government. The Competent
Authority shall pass the order based on the recommendation made by the
Informant Reward Committee.
13. Circumstances for determining the Amount of Reward.- In
recommending the reward amount, the Informant Reward Committee shall
consider the following, namely:-
(1) The accuracy of the information given by the Whistle-blower or Informant
particularly but not restricted to the veracity of the documents provided;
(2) The originality of the information within the meaning of clause 2 (i);
(3) The bonafide of the information provided by the Whistle-blower or
Informant with particular reference to whether the Whistle-blower or Informant is
colluding with the Financial Establishment;
(4) The extent and nature of the assistance rendered by the Whistle- blower
or Informant;
(5) The risk and trouble undertaken and the expense incurred by the Whistle-
blower or Informant in securing and furnishing the information / documents;
(6) The quantum of work involved in utilizing the information; and
(7) The quantum of value realized which is directly attributable to the
information and documents supplied by the informant.
14. Prohibition of Reward in Certain Cases.- No reward shall be granted
if,-
(1)The Whistle-blower or Informant is a Government servant who furnishes
information or evidence obtained by him in the course of his duties as a
Government Servant;
Explanation: For the purpose of this clause a Government Servant means a
person employed as an employee by the Central or any State or any Union
Territory Government or Statutory Authority or Nationalized Bank or any local
authority or any public sector undertaking, corporation, body, corporate or
establishment, set up or owned by the Central Government or any State
Government or any Union Territory Administration.
(2) The Whistle-blower or Informant is required by law to disclose the
information; or7
(3) The Whistle-blower or Informant has access to the information on the
basis of an agreement with or as a contractor for or employee of any Authority
under section 3 of the Act or as an acquaintance or relation of an employee of the
said Authority.
(4) Information has already been provided by any other Whistle-blower or
Informant or by any Authority under section 3 of the Act.
15. Information to be held in confidence.- The information and the identity
provided by the Whistle-blower of Informant or the reward paid to him shall be held
in confidence and shall not be disclosed except in compliance with the specific
order or direction of the Special Court, and only in a manner that preserves such
confidentiality.
16. Protection to whistle blower / informant.- Government may provide
protection to the whistle blower or the informant against any physical threat,
harassment or victimization by the Financial Entity, in case of need and if
specifically sought by the whistle blower / informant.
17. Maintenance of records and communication.- (1) Informant Reward
Authority shall maintain the record of each whistle blower or informant, the details
of cases in which he has furnished information, extent to which information has
been found reliable and useful, the reward, if any, paid to the informant in the past
etc,.
(2) The outcome of rejection or approval of information or amount of reward,
if any, shall be recorded by the Information Reward Authority in the register kept
for this purpose.
(3) A communication, if found necessary, may be made by the Information
Reward Authority to the informant acknowledging the suitability of information so
provided or intimation of rejection of his information with brief reasons thereto or
reward if any to be paid etc,.
18. Reward.- The amount of reward granted to the whistle blower or
informant under this Scheme shall be paid from the appropriate Head of Account.
THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT
GOVERNOR OF KARNATAKA
By Order and in the name of
the Governor of Karnataka,
(SIGN/-)
Dr. Vishal R
Secretary to the Government,
Finance Department
(Fiscal Reforms)8
FORM-I
(See clause (f) of rule 2 and sub-rule (1) of rule 5)
Form of Statement provided by the Whistle Blower or Informant for furnishing
Information
Sr. Particulars Details
No.
1. Full Name of the Whistle blower or
Informant (separately for each informant if
there are more than one informant) in
capital letters)
2. Father's Name
3. Date of Birth
4. Permanent Address of the Whistle blower or
Informant along with a copy of Proof
5. Current Address of the Whistle blower or
Informant (if different from Permanent
Address) along with a copy of Proof
6. Landline Phone No.
7. Mobile No.
8. E-mail ID
9. ID proof issued by any Govt. Agencies viz.
Passport / Voter ID Card etc. along with
copy of proof
10. PAN Card Number and Copy of the PAN
Card
11. Job Description of the Whistle blower or
Informant
12. Name and address of Defaulter in respect of
whom the information is furnished
14. Full particulars of nature and extent of
assets of the Defaulter
15. Particulars and List of documents
/Information furnished, if any
(a) In original
(b) Copy only9
16. Source of Information :
(a) Whether the information has been
acquired personally in the capacity of an
employee or partner or relative of the
Defaulter
(b) Whether information has been
acquired through some other person
17 Briefly state (attach evidence, if any)
a. How you have come to know about
the information
b. Special efforts, if any, made
c. Risks and trouble undertaken
d. Expenditure, if any, incurred
18. Information earlier provided under
these Guidelines, if yes, then details of the
same
19. Whether any reward is expected by the
Whistle Blower or Informant (Yes/No)
20. Particulars of Bank account in which
payment of reward is to be made (Bank
Account No., Bank Name, Branch, IFSC
Code, Beneficiary Name, etc.)
Date: Signature of the Whistle Blower (s) / Informant(s)
Place:
ID Proof (Copy Attached):10
Reward Scheme
Particulars of FE Particulars of Persons Involved with Each FE
Date of Type of Name of Owner /
Name of the FE
Sl No Commenci Establishment Sl Director /Promoter/ Address Contact Number
(Include any
subsidiaries / ng (Company/Trust/ No Manager / Member etc.,
Activities if LLP
affiliates)
known /Cooperative/Oth
er11
Reward Scheme (Moveable Assets)
Description Malafide Benami
Name of the FE Name of , material, Transfer if transactio Exact Ownership Appropriate
Sl No ( sI un bcl su idd ie
a
ra in esy Sl No O mw otn ee rr // D Mir ae nc ato gr e/
r
P /r o Mo Av se sa eb
t
le u nse u,
m
m bo ed r,e l AcD qa ut ie
s
io tif
o
a &n Ay d(N dra em sse (n
N
aif
m
a en y
&
Lo wc ha et rio en Docu am nye nt if ne at fv tea rlu e
/affiliates) if any Member etc of Quantity n kn i of w n Trano sff e ree) Ad Pd ar ye es rs ) of as kse et ps t is produced Depreciation
Annexure 1
Reward Scheme (Immoveable Assets)
Description Malafide Benami
Name of the FE Name of , Extent, Transfer if transactio Exact Ownership Likely net
Sl No ( s /I u an fbc fil s lu ii add tie ea sra )in e osy f S Nl o O / of w AMn nae nnr e/ a xD g ueir rre e /c 1 t Mo r e/ mPr bo em r o et te cr Im b Am l se so ev te a B s ( fN lt ou r o oui .l
r
t c so- t fu u
a
p nre
d
A n cD bq ya u t Fie s E io t if o a & o Tfn
r
aAy
n
d( sN d fera e rm es ese
)
n ( A PN
a
di a yf d m ea r ren e )s y s& of L w m do h ac e ia nrt e ti ao in n e D a pn ro oyc d u um cee dn t if V Da el pu re e ca iaft te ior n
Annexure1
floor area)
FORM-II
(See sub-rule (1) of rule 5 and rule 7)
STATEMENT/DECLARATION OF WHISTLE BLOWER / INFORMANT
I/we declare that, Signature Date
I/we have read and understood the Scheme for Incentivization of Whistle Blower or
Informants who provide original information leading to recovery of assets of Financial
i
Establishments and their colluders,2025
I / we are aware that the information furnished does not confer the right to any reward
and that I/we shall be bound by the decision of the Information Reward Authority in
ii
this regard.
I/we are aware that the extent of reward depends on the precision of the information
and realized value of the asset based on the documents furnished;
iii
iv I/we shall provide further documents/information or render assistance,
If any, as and when required;
I/we are aware that the reward would pertain only to the dues recovered/realized
which are directly attributable to the information supplied;
v
I / we are aware that the provisions of section 217of the BNS, 2023 have been read by
me / us and explained and I/ we are aware that if the information furnished is found
to be false and is intended to cause harm/injury to any other person directly or
vi indirectly, then, I/we would be liable to prosecution;
I/we accept that the Information Reward Authority is under no obligation to enter
into any correspondence regarding the details of any recovery as
vii
A result of the information provided;
I / we accept that the payment of reward is ex-gratia at the discretion of the authority
competent to grant rewards and I / we have no right to challenge the correctness of
viii
the decision in any court of law.
ix The information provided by me/us is Original Information as understood
in this Scheme
x I/we are not depositors or persons complicit in the activities of the
Financial Establishment.R.N.I. No. KARBIL/2001/47147 POSTAL REGN. No. RNP/KA/BGS/2202/2017-19
Licensed to post without prepayment WPP No. 297
12
xi Any disclosure I/we make is for public benefit only and not for private
gain
I / we accept to appear before the Nodal Officer / the Recovery Officer (strike off what
is not applicable)for the purpose of ascertaining my/our identity or veracity of the
xii
information so provided.
xiii In the event of my death before the reward is paid to me/us, it may be
Paid to my/our nominee(s) whose particulars are as under:-
Percentage of
Permanent Reward (if
Name of Nominee Age Relation Address more than one
Nominee)
Date: Signature of the Whistle Blower (s) / Informant(s)
Place:
Signature of the Competent Officer before whom the statement/declaration is
signed
Name & Designation of the Officer:
Date:
Place:
[Note :If the information is given jointly by more than one informant, the particulars of all such informants are to be
captured and this declaration is to be signed by all such informants.]
By order and etc……
ಮುದ(cid:206)ಕರು (cid:178)ಾಗೂ ಪ(cid:206)(cid:144)ಾಶಕರು:- ಸಂಕಲ(cid:163)ಾ(cid:297)(cid:144)ಾ(cid:312)ಗಳ(cid:133), ಕ(cid:163)ಾ(cid:143)ಟಕ (cid:170)ಾಜ(cid:205)ಪತ(cid:206), ಸ(cid:144)ಾ(cid:143)(cid:312) (cid:144)ೇಂದ(cid:206) ಮುದ(cid:206)(cid:158)ಾಲಯ, (cid:166)ೆಂಗಳ(cid:136)ರು