Lokayukta's resignation sought over corruption

A non-governmental organisation has demanded the resignation of the Lokayukta over allegations of corruption in the ombudsman’s office.

President of Jayaprakash Narayan Vichara Vedike, B M Shivakumar, told the media on  Friday that with serious charges of corruption in the Lokayukta office, Justice Y Bhaskar Rao should step down as the head of the anti-corruption watchdog on moral grounds.

“When an issue pertaining to alleged filing of a false affidavit by a family member came up, Justice Shivaraj Patil immediately stepped down as the Lokayukta, barely a month after he was appointed as the ombudsman. We expect Justice Rao to immediately resign before people take to the streets pressing for his resignation. There is no doubt that corruption has taken root in the Lokayukta office because of an ineffective Lokayukta. Besides, IPS officer Sonia Narang has submitted a report about corruption within the organisation,” Shivakumar said.

He said the Vedike would stage a protest at the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Anand Rao Circle on Wednesday. “We are organising protests in the coming week against inaction by the Lokayukta in holding an investigation into the SP’s report. The demand for the resignation of Justice Rao will intensify in the coming days. We plan to also take out a protest march till Raj Bhavan,” he said.