SC refuses relief to Lokayukta scam accused

Says no question of bail for four in extortion racket

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday refused to modify its order staying bail to four accused in the case of extortion racket allegedly run by them through the office of the Karnataka Lokayukta.

The former public relations officer of the Lokayukta, Syed Riyaz, is one of the accused.

A bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy saw no reason to modify its September 16 order where the bail granted to the accused by the Karnataka High Court (HC) was stayed.

“Where is the question of bail? We are not going to modify the conditions. The interim order will continue,” the bench stated.

The apex court, however, asked three accused, TV journalist M B Srinivasa Gowda, Shankare Gowda and Ashok Kumar, to file a response to the special leave petition (SLP) filed by the special investigation team (SIT).

The SIT's petition filed on September 16 prompted the SC to suspend the HC ‘s September 6 order granting bail to the accused.

In a rejoinder to Riyaz’s submission, the SIT contended that since the accused worked for 20 years in high position as senior officer, he could destroy evidence and influence witnesses if bail is granted.

It also maintained that the investigation team collected valuable materials to unearth the involvement of the accused in other cases of extorting money from public servants on the pretext of probing corruption.

“The accused have been involved in serious offences of corruption, using the office of the Karnataka Lokayukta, a sacred institution which is established to curb corruption and prevent illegal activities of public servants,” the SIT contended.

The SIT registered as many as five cases and arrested 11 people, including Lokayukta’s son and prime accused Ashwin Rao.