Karnataka Lokayukta corruption case: Protests against Lokayukta continue

BENGALURU: Aam Admi Party (AAP) on Thursday submitted a representation before the officiating registrar, Lokayukta M.S. Balakrishna demanding the resignation of the Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao on grounds of corruption. The representation has reportedly been signed by 25,000 people and has alleged that Justice Rao lacked moral authority to continue as the Lokayukta in the wake of the corruption scam involving his son Ashwin Y. and should step down.

It is reliably learnt that Balakrishna will go through the petition and examine the provisions under the Lokayukta Act; on whom to refer the matter to for sanction of investigation against the Lokayukta before tabling the petition to the Lokayukta. Under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act (KLA), the Lokayukta has no powers under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Cases under PCA are registered, investigated and prosecuted by the Lokayukta police, which is an independent wing of the Lokayukta. “It is not clear on whom to refer the petition for sanction. The Registrar's office has to go through the KLA,” said an official source.