CCB not competent to probe corruption cases: Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi

Bengaluru: In a clear sign that the Lok Ayukta is a house deeply divided, Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi has openly attacked the anti-corruption czar Lokayukta Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao, who had announced on Friday that the investigation into the alleged role of his son and another man in an extortion racket, has been handed over to the Central Crime Branch (CCB).

“The CCB is not the competent authority to probe corruption cases, as such cases do not come under the CCB’s purview,” Justice Adi told DC “As CCB is not competent to probe corruption cases, it would have been better if Justice Rao had written to the government requesting it to hand over the case to any competent agency, like the CBI or had constituted a committee to probe the case,” he added.

All but admitting that the two seniormost judges in the anti-corruption body were working at cross-purposes, Justice Adi said that Justice Rao had informed him that he had decided to transfer the case to an agency outside the Lokayukta but failed to tell Justice Adi that he planned to give it to the CCB. “I told Justice Rao that it was left to him to transfer the case but I did not know it would be given to the CCB.”

Justice Bhaskar Rao has been under a cloud after a certain Krishna Rao and an Ashwin Rao – his son’s namesake – stand accused of extorting money from government officials while allegedly claiming to be working at the Lokayukta office and operating the scam out of Justice Rao's own home. Further, despite a written complaint by a senior police officer, the Lokayukta had not initiated a probe.

He also added that when various cases filed against CCB officials are pending investigation with the Lokayukta, how can any one expect an impartial probe from the CCB?