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Karnataka Lokayukta resigns over alleged bribery scandal

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Bhaskar-Rao

Bengaluru: Facing the prospect of his removal, controversial Karnataka Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao has resigned over an alleged extortion racket in the anti-graft ombudsman’s office involving his son.

Rao, who had resisted growing calls for stepping down following the allegation, had tendered his resignation on Monday and it was accepted by Governor Vajubhai R Vala today, ending months of uncertainty hanging over the institution.

“Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka is pleased to accept the resignation of Dr. Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao, as Lokayukta of Karnataka State with immediate effect,” a Raj Bhavan communique said today.

Rao is on a long leave since July last after his son Ashwin Rao was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the case.

A motion moved by BJP and JDS and also supported by the ruling Congress seeking the removal of Rao is pending before the Karnataka Assembly with the Speaker Kagodu Thimappa considering it before referring the issue to the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice to take the process forward.

According to the Lokayukta Act, recently amended to simplify rules for removal of the anti-graft ombudsman, on admission of the motion, the presiding officers shall refer the matter to the High Court Chief Justice for investigation into the grounds over which the removal is sought.

If the charges against the Lokayukta are proved by the inquiry, it is then taken up for consideration and adoption of the motion and sent to the Governor for assent.

The investigation for proof of misbehaviour or incapacity of Lokayukta has to be done as provided in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, by a three-member committee, comprising two judges and a jurist.

The scandal surfaced after Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Sonia Narang wrote a letter to the Registrar of Karnataka Lokayukta about the complaint she received from a person who alleged that someone from the Lokayukta office demanded Rs 1 crore in bribe to avoid a raid.

The SIT has arrested 11 persons, including Ashwin Rao, and registered five cases in connection with the alleged racket.

In another development, a motion seeking removal of Upa Lokayukta Subhash Adi, moved by the Congress but not supported by BJP and JDS, is also before the Assembly.

In their petition against Adi, the ruling party members have accused him of “misuse of office, misconduct and inefficiency”. The Opposition maintains there are no specific charges against Adi and the move against him is an attempt to shut down the Lokayukta institution itself.

Former Upa Lokayukta SB Majage had earlier alleged that Adi had closed a case of misconduct against a medical officer from Hubballi, which was a being handled by him. Following that, some Congress leaders had demanded Adi’s resignation.

The Congress leaders had also alleged that the medical officer was a relative of Opposition BJP leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar, during whose Chief Ministership Adi was appointed as the Upa Lokayukta.

Procedure for removal of the Upa Lokayukta is similar to that for a Lokayukta.
The Assembly Speaker has, however, said that he is not convinced with the evidence produced that alleged Adi had shown favouritism and exceeded his jurisdiction.

(Agencies)

Anti-corruption organization caught in corruption; Lokayukta’s house, office raided

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Lokayukta scam

Bengaluru: The ongoing probe with regard to the allegations of corruption taking place in the Lokayukta office, led the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to make a thorough search of the official residence and office of Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao. The team managed to procure certain documents.

The search at the residence and office took place in the absence of Bhaskar Rao. Officials, though confirmed the search, refused to state any details based on the documents recovered.

Officials state that investigations began after few touts were arrested. They also said that a deeper analysis of phone records revealed that conspirators were present at the official residence and at the Lokayukta’s office to plan the operations.

“Thus we have two places where crime has taken place,” said an investigating official.
Sources claim that a complaint was filed by an Irrigation Department employee, Chennabasappa against Ashwin Y.

According to the complaint, Chennabasappa had met Ashwin at the Lokayukta’s official residence. At present, Ashwin is the main accused in the case and is in the custody of SIT.

The team was successful in raiding many locations which include two places that belong to Ashwin’s father Bhaskar Rao. SIT has recovered few documents that were seized from Ashwin’s Hyderabad house.

(Agencies)

Lokayukta joint commissioner Syed Riyaz arrested

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Lokayukta scam

Bengaluru: Karnataka Lokayukta joint commissioner Syed Riyaz was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sunday night for his alleged involvement in collecting bribes from state officials.

“We have taken Riyaz into custody from a private hospital where he was taking treatment for blood pressure and diabetes,” said a senior investigating officer.

As part of its probe into the graft charges against some unidentified officials in the watchdog, though the SIT team summoned Riyaz for interrogation, he delayed by extending his leave from July 17 to July 31 on returning from pilgrimage to Makkah on July 19.

“Preliminary investigation and interrogation of three suspected extortionists whom we arrested last week revealed that Riayz was one of the kingpins in threatening many officials of booking graft cases and raiding their premises if they did not pay up over the years,” the officer said.

The SIT, headed by Additional Director General of Police Kamal Pant, was set up by the state government on the request of Lokayukta, Justice (retd.) Y. Bhaskar Rao on June 30 to probe the graft charges, including a bribe of Rs.1 crore sought allegedly by his son Ashwin Rao.

The SIT is also on the lookout for Riyaz’s brother-in-law Sadiq for allegedly being part of the extortionist gang.

The three co-accused in the scam are Ashok Kumar, Srinivas Gowda and Shankare Gowda, who used to threaten officials and extort money after collecting information against them through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

(Agencies)

Extortion racket: SIT arrests Karnataka Lokayukta’s son Ashwin Rao

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Ashwin Rao

Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday arrested Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao son, Ashwin Rao, for allegedly running an extortion from the ombudsman’s office. He was arrested by the team led by DCP Labhu Ram in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Ashiwn will be brought back to Bengaluru by evening. Meanwhile, his arrest has delivered a serious blow to embattled Lokayukta Rao, who has been refusing to quit despite protests from various quarters.

This is the second high-profile arrest in the case in less than 24 hours. On Sunday, Joint Commissioner (PRO) Syed Riyaz was held on the charges of the corruption by the SIT. He has been the PRO for the watch dog for 18 years now. So far six have been arrested in the case.

The SIT arrested Riyaz in connection with the FIR (56/2015) pertaining to threatening and attempting to extort money from PWD Executive Engineer M N Krishnamurthy. Though the SIT had already arrested three individuals, Riyaz is the first Lokayukta official to be arrested.

Sources said Riyaz had played a vital role in the Krishnamurthy case. Ashok Kumar, the first to be arrested by the SIT, had been in constant touch with Riyaz. Ashok, a realtor, had made several calls to Riyaz. The pattern of these calls is interesting as after each call from Ashok, Riyaz would immediately call Y Ashwin, son of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao. Ashwin was named accused number one by the Lokayukta police in the FIR registered on July 1.

(Agencies)

Siddaramaiah puts onus on Governor to remove Justice Bhaskar Rao

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KARNATAKA JOINT SESSION

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday distanced himself from the efforts being made by the Opposition for removal of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao by saying that Governor Vajubhai Vala should take a decision on the matter.

The governor is understood to be in consultation with legal experts on the growing demand for Justice Rao’s removal.

Vala has reportedly sought a detailed report from the State government on the recent developments in the anti-corruption watchdog, including charges against Justice Rao’s son, Ashwin.

An attempt by the Opposition parties, the BJP and the JD(S), to move a motion in both Houses of the Legislature seeking removal of the Lokayukta, is unlikely to materialise.

100 signatures

Advocate General K Ravivarma Kumar has reportedly told the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting attended by leaders of all political parties that signatures of minimum 100 MLAs and 50 MLCs are required to submit a memorandum seeking to move the motion, as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.

The memorandum submitted by the Opposition parties last week to the presiding officers of the Assembly and the Council had signatures of 57 MLAs and 33 MLCs.

The BAC meeting was convened at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi to take a decision on the memorandum. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar were among the leaders who attended the meeting.

The presiding officers have reserved their ruling. The need for amending the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, to enable the State government to intervene and take appropriate steps to protect the dignity of the institution was also discussed at the BAC meeting.

(Agencies)

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