India, June 28 -- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday expressed serious concern over the declining standards of police investigations in the state, despite a reported dip in overall crime rates. He emphasized that while fewer crimes are being registered, the quality and thoroughness of investigations have seen a worrying slide.

The Chief Minister's comments came during a high-level review meeting with senior police officials and department heads at the office of the Director General of Police. "It's concerning that although crime numbers are down, the standard of investigation has deteriorated. This must be addressed," Siddaramaiah said bluntly.

He cited specific lapses, pointing out that in a robbery case in Bidar, the accu...