Lokayukta finally quits

Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, who has been in the eye of a controversy surrounding the anti-graft ombudsman, has finally resigned as Karnataka Lokayukta.

On leave since July 27, after his son Y Ashwin was arrested on charges of extortion inside the Lokayukta office, Justice Rao sent a one-page hand written resignation letter to Governor Vajubhai Vala through M S Balakrishna, the Lokayukta in-charge registrar.

The letter was delivered to the in-charge registrar’s office by Justice Rao’s nephew Ashok and two advocates from Hyderabad.

A Raj Bhavan communique stated that the resignation was accepted on Tuesday.
The resignation letter stated: “Under Section 5 (1) (c) of Lokayukta Act I am hereby tendering my resignation to the post of Lokayukta with effect from forenoon of December 7, 2015.” Justice Rao has also quoted personal reasons for his resignation.

Justice Rao was in the thick of controversy after he failed to act on a report submitted by Lokayukta (City) SP Sonia Narang about a government servant being threatened of raid if he failed to pay money.

The demand was made right next to Justice Rao’s chamber on the instructions of Ashwin and Joint Commissioner (PRO) Lokayukta Syed Riyaz.

When Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi ordered a probe on June 23, Justice Rao swiftly ordered an investigation by an outside agency.

Later, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the government on Justice Rao’s request. The SIT later arrested Ashwin, Riyaz and their associates.   With the resignation, the motion in the Assembly to remove Justice Rao as Lokayukta has lapsed, said legal experts.

“Impeachment is to remove a person from office. If the office holder has just resigned, the impeachment proceedings become frustrated and unnecessary. The impeachment proceedings will be terminated,” said Supreme Court advocate K V Dhananjay.