Uproar in Council over Lokayukta SP's transfer

The Legislative Council on Monday witnessed noisy scenes over the transfer of a Lokayukta SP, 20 days after he raided a private person’s house, said to be belonging to Rajarajeshwari Nagar MLA Munirathna, which had 700 BBMP files.

Though the officer was not named, the Opposition gave all indications towards the transfer of the Lokayukta SP Dr B A Mahesh who raided the  house.

Raising the issue in the House, member C Ashwathnarayan (BJP)  wanted to know the status of the Lokayukta case related to the files which were seized on December 27 and also the TenderSure projects in the City, from the government.

“An executive engineer, who was previously suspended, was brought back to BBMP. And you (the government) transfer the man who conducted the raid. He conducted the raid on December 27 and was transfered on January 17,” he charged.

Opposition leader K S Eshwarappa sought answers from the government as to why he was transfered. “It took them only 20 days to transfer an honest officer while the case is still being investigated. Is it not an evidence of the government protecting corrupt and demoralising honest officers?” he questioned.

JD (S) floor leader Basavaraj Horatti cornered the House leader S R Patil saying that the government is unable to give clear answers on the reasons for the transfer of the Lokayukta SP.

 The Opposition demanded either the SP be brought back to the Lokayukta or ensure that the case related to illegal hoarding of files in the MLA’s house be handed over to CBI or a House Committee for investigation.

Defending the government, Patil said that there was no need of a CBI or House Committee’s probe into the issue. He also dismissed the Lokayukta SP’s transfer as a purely administrative decision in nature. Then, the Opposition stormed into the well of the House and created an uproar.

Patil yielded to the protest and said the final response of the government will be clarified by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on March 19.