Karnataka: Graft taint, top brass conflict hit Lokayukta staff morale

BENGALURU: The controversy over corruption in Lokayukta and the recent conflict between the two top guns of the institution, Lokayukta Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao and Upalokayukta Subhash B. Adi, has resulted in a direct impact on the morale of the staff of the anti-corruption agency. Interestingly, the Lokayukta police, which conducts operations to trap corrupt officials almost everyday, have not done much in the last few days.

Lokayukta sources said that as Justice Rao and Justice Adi were apparently at loggerheads, the work in the agency was not going smoothly. “The agency is already hit by the corruption allegations. Adding to this, the confrontation of Justice Rao and Justice Adi has further worsened the situation,” an officer said.

“This (the confrontation) has been going from quite sometime. But it became public after Justice Adi directed SP Sonia Narang to investigate the corruption case, even after Justice Rao had ordered the IGP to probe the matter. Now, Justice Adi is also publicly expressing his displeasure over the Lokayukta’s decision of handing over the case to the CCB. This is making it obvious that all is not well between them,” the officer pointed.

It is also learnt that the functioning of the anti-corruption agency, which was active in trapping officials taking bribe and raiding the houses of corrupt officials, was affected
by the recent developments. However, officials denied this saying that traps are based on complaints, while raids are conducted based on source information. “The number of traps coming down in the last few days has nothing to do with the recent development,” an official said.

When DC asked Justice Adi, he said, “It is just an individual perception and we will look into it if there is any problem.”