JOIN USThis was how Janata Dal (S) leader H D Deve Gowda allegedly warned then ADGP of Lokayukta police, Jeevan Kumar B Gaonkar, who was probing the disproportionate assets case against his eldest son Balakrishne Gowda.
Gaonkar, in a two-page ‘secret/confidential letter’ dated November 8 to acting Lokayukta Justice S B Majage, narrated briefly the conversation between Gowda and himself. In the letter, a copy of which is available with this paper, the officer stated Gowda called him on November 7 at 10.30 am from mobile number 9483500997.
“Mr Gaonkar, I thought you were a good officer. But you have directed 150 Lokayukta personnel to raid the premises of my son Balakrishne Gowda and relatives, and acted as a slave of Yeddyurappa. Do not be under the impression that Yeddyurappa will always protect you, be careful!” Gaonkar quoted Gowda as saying, in his letter. He also noted that Gowda had stated this curtly.
Besides, the officer said, Gowda alleged that the Lokayukta police had taken away a security guard working at Balakrishne Gowda’s house somewhere.
“To the above, I calmly told him that I will verify regarding the allegation about the Lokayukta police taking away a security guard belonging to Sri H D Deve Gowda’s family and politely told him that the Lokayukta police are investigating the case referred to them by the hon’ble court in an objective manner. At this point, the conversation was discontinued,” Gaonkar stated.
He further said he verified the allegation made by Gowda with the investigating officers, Lokayukta SP P K Shivashankar and DySP Prasanna V Raju, and ascertained that the Lokayukta police had not taken any security guard into custody for the purpose of investigation.
When contacted by Deccan Herald, Gaonkar said: “I am sad that a confidential letter has been made public. It should not have happened.”
Official sources said Gaonkar’s transfer was planned a couple of days before Deve Gowda called him. A top police officer had met Goankar to convey the decision of his transfer before effecting it.
Meanwhile, KPCC president G Parameshwara said the BJP government transferred Gaonkar to bail out Yeddyurappa against whom the Lokayukta police has been probing corruption cases.
Gaonkar’s transfer should be cancelled and he should be posted back to the Lokayukta, he demanded.