The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash proceedings against Athar Ali, deputy controller of the legal metrology department, in a disproportionate assets case. Justice M Nagaprasanna, in an order passed on August 24, observed that the material presents "a textbook illustration of circumstances warranting an investigation into disproportionate assets." The court stated that the hands of investigation cannot remain tied when the material on record prima facie calls for investigation, and interference is without countenance.

Athar Ali had challenged a case registered under Section 13(1)(b) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. According to the court, a preliminary enquiry was conducted on July 10, 2024, following a source report drawn by Lokayukta police on June 1, 2024. The case involves alleged assets disproportionate to known sources of income by 155%.