JOIN USLokayukta scam investigation: SIT makes first arrest
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case of corruption in the anti-graft ombudsman on Tuesday arrested and produced one Ashok Kumar (30), a resident of Rajajinagar, before the Lokayukta special court.
Sources said Ashok, who is into real estate and sand transportation business, was the one who made calls to M N Krishnamurthy, executive engineer, Bengaluru Zilla Panchayat.
As per the FIR registered against Ashwin, son of Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao, Krishnamurthy received a message from a number “9066029213” asking him to call back.
When Krishnamurthy called, the person on the other end asked him to come to the Lokayukta office, where Ashwin introduced himself as Krishna Rao and demanded Rs 1 crore to avoid a Lokayukta police raid.
“The probe found that Ashok, a resident of Rajajinagar, was the one who had called Krishnamurthy. He used to be a security guard and later started his own security agency. Of late he was into real estate and sand transportation businesses,” said an official who is part of the SIT. At present, only the FIR (56/2015) is being probed and Ashok’s role in the particular case has been found, sources added.
“He has a major role to play in the case, which is stated to have taken place on May 4 at the Lokayukta office. We have to question him further on the role played by other persons in this case,” the official added.
The special court sent Ashok to SIT custody for 10 days.
Meanwhile, Lokayukta Registrar M S Balakrishna has directed Joint Commissioner (PRO), Lokayukta, Syed Riyaz, who is also under the SIT scanner, to file a proper application seeking extension of leave.
Riyaz was on leave from July 7 to 17. The registrar’s office received a letter from Riyaz on Monday seeking extension of leave for another 30 days.
Sources said Riyaz’s letter was not in accordance with the rules.
“He was on leave till Friday, July 17. Though Saturday was a holiday, the letter seeking extension of leave should have been from July 18 and not from July 20. Moreover, he was granted leave on condition that there cannot be an extension and also that a government servant cannot resign while on leave,” said an official.