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Karnataka anti-corruption watchdog in murky waters

Posted on July 03, 2015 from Karnataka, National ι Report #10958

Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao is in  troubled waters following an FIR naming his son, Y Ashwin, as an accused in an extortion case involving the office of the Lokayukta.The opposition parties, BJP and JDS have lost no time in seeking a CBI probe into the alleged bribery scandal in Lokayukta. They have also upped the ante seeking Bhaskar Rao’s removal as the Lokayukta. 

Accusing the ruling party of defending the corrupt, the opposition parties  sought to move an adjournment motion on the scandal in the Karnataka assembly. Karnataka Minister and Leader of the House SR Patil told reporters it is very unfortunate that BJP and JD(S) members walked out only because some from the ruling bench interrupted them. “The government has no intention of protecting anyone. But government has no power for removal of Lokayukta as per the Lokayukta Act 1984," he said.

An FIR was on Wednesday filed against Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao's son in connection with an alleged bribery scandal. The FIR was filed on the basis of a complaint that an executive engineer was asked to pay Rs 1 crore bribe to avoid a raid, Upa Lokayukta Subash Adi told PTI.

Asked if Lokayukta's son would be arrested, he said it was left to the institution's Superintendent of Police Sonia Narang, who blew the lid off the alleged scandal.

The alleged scam came to light after Narang wrote a letter to Lokayukta Registrar about the complaint she received from the Executive Engineer, who alleged that someone from the Lokayukta office demanded Rs 1 crore in bribe to avoid a raid. As the Opposition and various organisations stepped up pressure for a CBI probe, the government said it could not hand over the case to the central agency unless the Lokayukta itself asks for it.

"This (Lokayukta) Act was made in 1985; we cannot give it to CBI under Section 15 sub clause 3 of Lokayukta act," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in the Assembly which is holding its monsoon session in Belgavi. He said as per the recommendation made by Lokayukta under the provisions of the Act, a Special Investigation Team headed by ADGP rank officer Kamal Panth who had earlier worked for CBI, had been formed.

Rao, a former High Court Chief Justice, has rejected allegations that his son was involved in the scandal and said he would resign if the charge was proved correct. Pressure for Rao's resignation mounted as several organisations, including advocates, Kannada outfits and other bodies held protests insisting that his continuance was affecting the credibility of the institution itself.