Fake bills: Assembly secy told to file objections

Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanath Shetty on Tuesday directed Legislative Assembly secretary S Murthy to file objections in a complaint seeking an enquiry against him for floating a company in his wife’s name and submitting fake bills to claim funds.

RTI activist Jayakumar Hiremath had filed a complaint that Magnacarta, a firm floated by Murthy, did not supply foodgrain but claimed money by submitting fake bills.

Justice Shetty asked Hiremath about any vested interest in filing the complaint. Hiremath replied that he had filed cases against many government officials for irregularities and denied any vested interest in filing a complaint against Murthy.

Justice Shetty directed Murthy and Hiremath to appear before him on November 22 along with their advocates and adjourned the matter.

Murthy was suspended in 2005 and later dismissed from service in 2008. He was reinstated based on a court order in 2012. He had submitted an affidavit to the government that he had not worked in any institution between 2008 and 2012 and not claimed any allowance. However, he managed Magnacarta’s affairs on his wife’s behalf, the complaint stated. The government had ordered a CID probe into the charges, but the then Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa wrote to the CID and withdrew the case.