BENGALURU: The prime accused in the Lokayukta corruption case, Ashwin Y. – son of Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao, has reportedly told the interrogators that he helped P.B. Channabasappa by talking him to a senior police officer in the Lokayukta institution, but denied that he took money for the favour done. Mr Channabasappa is the complainant in the latest corruption case filed against Ashwin based on which the SIT arrested Ashwin.
SIT sources told Deccan Chronicle that they are yet to intensify questioning of Ashwin and Lokayukra PRO Syed Riyazathullah. “During the preliminary questioning, Ashwin admitted that Mr Channabasappa approached him through the other accused V. Bhaskar and Ashok Kumar,” said an official, on condition of anonymity.
“Channabasappa met me along with Bhaskar and Ashok. He told me that an inspector in the Lokayukta was harassing him in connection with a raid on his house. The inspector was reportedly calling him repeatedly and was asking him to come to Bengaluru often to face the investigators. He was fed up and wanted to get rid of the case. He came to me through Bhaskar and pleaded for help, and I assured him that I would do whatever I could. I contacted a senior police officer in the Lokayukta and told him about the case. After that, the inspector stopped harassing Channabasappa,” the official quoted Ashwin as saying.
But Ashwin denied taking any money from Mr Channabasappa for the favour. The officer said, “The allegation is that he took Rs 5 lakh from Mr Channabasappa. But Ashwin is claiming that he did not take any money.”
“We have concrete evidence to prove the meeting between Ashwin and Channabasappa, and those present at the meeting. We now have to establish that cash changed hands between them.”
Mr Channabasappa was an executive engineer of Chitradurga Zilla Panchayat when he was raided by the Lokayukta in March 2013. In his complaint on Monday, he alleged that he paid lakhs of rupees to the extortion syndicate run by Ashwin to get a favour done in the Lokayukta.
Riyaz got Ashwin treated
It is revealed that Lokayukta PRO Syed Riyazathullah introduced V. Bhaskar, another accused in the case, to Ashwin. “Ashwin and Riyaz became close after Riyaz helped him with medical treatment. About two years ago, Ashwin had a tumour and his father, Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao, brought him to Bengaluru for treatment. Justice Rao asked Riyaz to get his son treated. Riyaz took Ashwin to Bowring Hospital, then to a reputed private hospital and got him treated. The two became close after that,” an SIT official said.
