BENGALURU: Samaj Parivatana Samudaya a voluntary organisation which works on environment and anti corruption issues in Karnataka and other states, on July 14 filed a public interest litigation (29445-48 of 2015) before the High Court seeking a court-monitored investigation in the Lokatyukta corruption scandal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In the PIL, a copy of which is with this newspaper, the petitioners have stated that the current Lokayukta of Karnataka Y. Bhaskar Rao and his son Ashwin Y. have in recent months engaged in one of the most “daring and unprecedented acts of public corruption in this country.
This PIL, for reasons shown in it, seeks an independent and impartial criminal investigation into this unprecedented corruption. Under circumstances explained in this petition, it has become necessary for this court to direct an investigation by the CBI into this corruption and to monitor the same. This father-son duo has shaken the confidence of the public in the due administration of the anti-corruption law in Karnataka.
The only question before this court today is whether this father-son duo and their conspirators should not be impartially investigated and criminally prosecuted - in order to restore the deteriorating rule of law in the State of Karnataka,” the PIL stated.
It further states that Justice Rao and Ashwin had “criminally conspired” to exploit the public servants’ fear of (anti corruption) raids. “Ashwin began to summon public servants from various cadres to his father's office and extort them and demand crores of rupees in return for not being raided by his father's team. And, the public servants who would succumb to such demands would obviously recover all such monies from the public by further abusing their own offices. If extortion demands of Ashwin would be met, Y.
Bhaskar Rao would instruct his team to turn a blind eye to all corruption by those who had paid a ransom to his family. This went on for a considerable time. Fortunately, there were many honest public servants within the Lokayukta's office who were greatly pained to see what had become of this institution that was once held in high esteem by the public,” the document stated.
The petitioners - SPS represented by S.R. Hiremath, Deepak C.N of Jan Sangram Parishath, Prof. Vishnu Kamath (board member of SPS) and Ganesh Koundinya (social activist) have further stated that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has been constituted by the government under directions from the Lokayukta comprises police officers from the State, who may not be allowed a free hand to carry such a sensitive probe by the elected representatives, who are facing corruption charges by the Lokayukta.
SIT records complainant Krishnamurthy's statement
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged corruption in Lokayukta has reportedly questioned M.N. Krishnamurthy, the Executive Engineer in the Bengaluru Urban Zilla Panchayat, who exposed the corruption in the anti-corruption institution.
Sources said that Krishnamurthy was summoned by the SIT officials and his statement has been recorded by the officials. “He has given complete details about the incident related to the accused in the case demanding money from him. He has also named several people who had allegedly asked him for money. He has told the name of Ashwin and several other staff in the institution,” a source said.
The SIT is reportedly collecting the names of government officials who were reportedly approached by the accused demanding money. “Once the list of such officials is prepared, they will be summoned to appear before the investigating agency and their statement will be recorded. Based on their information, further investigating will be done,” the source added.
It is also learnt that the SIT has, meanwhile, sought the footage aired in television channels related to the scam. “The channels have been asked to provide the footage. Information will be collected even through the footage as every minute detail is considered seriously,” the source said.
