Lokayukta police arrest Palike junior engineer

A junior engineer with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) was arrested by the Lokayukta police in connection with the case of hundreds of files pertaining to works in the Palike’s Rajarajeshwari Nagar division found at a private house belonging to Rajarajeshwari Nagar MLA Muniratna.

Junior engineer Vishwas, who was absconding for over a year, surrendered before the Investigating officer as his application seeking bail was rejected. Subsequently, he was arrested by the Lokayukta police.

The Lokayukta police had registered the case against BBMP Executive Engineer Idaya Vendon, his office clerk Shailaja, Vishwas and three private contractors. The police had raided the house (No 10/1) on 2nd Main Road, Vyalikaval, which is in the name of MLA Muniratna’s wife Manjula.

The Lokayukta police had searched the house on December 26, 2014, evening based on a complaint filed by Srinivas stating that Vendon was running a parallel BBMP office at this private house in Vyalikaval. During the search, the police had found Vendon and others in the house. Vendon was on leave on the day he was found at the private house. The files pertaining to works in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar division were also found in the house.

The Lokayukta police had been looking for Vendon and Vishwas since the last one year. 

Sources said Vishwas had filed a bail application before the Lokayukta court. When the court rejected the application, he moved the High Court. 

When the High Court too dismissed his petition, Vishwas surrendered before the Lokayukta special court. The court directed him to surrender before the investigating officer (IO) in the case.

On Monday, on the directions of the court, Vishwas surrendered before the IO and was produced before the court. Vendon, the main accused, is untraceable, sources said.