Fake bills scam: High Court remits matter to Lokayukta

The High Court on Friday remitted to Lokayukta, the matter pertaining to investigation into the complaint by former Mayor P R Ramesh on the fake bills scam in BBMP.

Ramesh had moved the High Court seeking a CBI probe or investigation by any other independent agency into the scam after the Lokayukta filed a ‘B’ report. During the hearing on Friday, a division bench comprising Justices K L Manjunath and Ravi Malimath remitted the matter for “fresh consideration after giving an opportunity to the petitioner.”

Ramesh had submitted that the Lokayukta passed the order without hearing him and erroneously accepted the statement made by the chief engineer. He said that he does not have faith in the Lokayukta and entrust the investigation to CBI. Ramesh had filed a complaint with Lokayukta seeking to investigate into multi-crore project to re-model and construct stormwater drains in Hebbal, Vrishabavathi, Koramangala and Chellaghatta valleys.

The Rs 350-crore project was conceived in 2004-05. The project was later brought under JnNURM. However, only 40 per cent of the work was completed by 2008 while the cost escalate to Rs 950 crore. “Even if the petitioner has not submitted rejoinder to reply to BBMP, Lokayukta official was bound to consider the allegations and counter allegations before closing the matter. They cannot blindly close the case,” the bench said.