DRDO inquiring into arrest of scientist

Sources in the DRDO said that the investigating team questioned Rao on the allegations and also obtained a copy of the FIR from the police. The team which recently visited Bangalore was able to extract details with regard to the arrest of Rao, who was among the 18 persons picked up by the police during a raid on a spa and massage parlour in Jayamahal on May 11.

Rao, who is the head of GTRE and headed the prestigious Kaveri engine programme, was released on bail. He claimed to have been trapped in the massage parlour when he entered the premises for inquiring about treatment possibilities for his wife. Rao said that his wife was suffering from spondylitis.

Sources in the Ministry state that a high level meeting will be held in New Delhi to decide the next course of action in the embarrassing scandal. It is learnt that the Ministry may not hesitate to suspend the senior officer, if he was found guilty.

Rao was stated to be an “outstanding” scientist in DRDO and is scheduled to retire this year. But due to the sensitivity and critical nature of the Kaveri Engine programme, his tenure was recently extended by two years.

Two held for betting

The CCB police arrested two persons on Saturday for cricket betting, and seized Rs 2.55 lakh, three cellphones and a colour TV set, all valued at Rs three lakh.  

Tipped off, the police raided Lords and Lords Association Club and found N Vikas (40) of Indiranagar Stage II and K M Muralidhar (49) of Yelahanka allegedly collecting money, when IPL T20 match between Deccan Charges and Kings XI Punjab was on.

The two were arrested on similar charges previously.