Karnataka Lokayukta admits its ex-SP involved in extortion racket

Srinath Mahadev Joshi was in constant communication with the prime suspect, Ningappa G alias Ningappa Sawant, a former constable from Hosadurga in Chitradurga dismissed from service, who on June 2, was arrested by the Lokayukta police.

Bengaluru: For the first time, Karnataka Lokayukta has said that one of its former Superintendents of Police (SP) was involved in a recently busted extortion racket.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Lokayukta said that Srinath Mahadev Joshi, who was on June 12 relieved as the SP, Bengaluru City-1, Karnataka Lokayukta, was in constant communication with the prime suspect, Ningappa G alias Ningappa Sawant, a former constable from Hosadurga in Chitradurga dismissed from service, who on June 2, was arrested by the Lokayukta police.

The Lokayukta, quoting the preliminary findings from the probe, alleged that Joshi and Ningappa conspired together and extorted money from government officials.

The Lokayukta has since written to the Chief Secretary to take appropriate action against Joshi and give a report, as he, an IPS officer, was found in violation of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968.

The Lokayukta said that there was no official complaint, but it took a suo motu case after receiving information of the offences being committed.

According to the Lokayukta, Ningappa contacted excise officials on WhatsApp and claimed that he knew officers in the Lokayukta police. Ningappa, after gaining their confidence, used to threaten them and extort them, it is alleged.

It was also found that Ningappa frequently visited the Lokayukta office in Bengaluru and remained in constant contact with Joshi and used the codeword “kg” to extort the officials.

“All these have been prima facie found through the probe so far,” the Ombudsman said in the statement.

“Further, it was found that Ningappa, to legitimise the extorted sum, invested it in cryptocurrency in his and his relatives' names. When his phone was examined, 24 crypto wallets were found and and in 13 of them, Rs 4.92 crore was invested. The said wallets have been frozen to trace the money trail and further the probe,” the statement further stated.

The Ombudsman also said that on June 15, Joshi’s house was raided. However, it wasn't revealed if anything significant was recovered. It was later learnt that Joshi wasn't home during the raid.

On June 2, the Lokayukta registered the FIR under sections related to the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR only named Ningappa Sawant, based on preliminary information that he was extorting government officials by threatening them with impending raids after impersonating officers from the Lokayukta.

Internal monitoring committee set up

The Lokayukta also announced that it has temporarily set up an “Internal Monitoring Committee” to keep a check on erring officials. It also asked the government to appoint further judicial and other officers.

It said that when it had asked the government earlier, it received a reply to use the personnel transferred to them when the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) was disbanded. The Ombudsman also revealed that so far 41 FIRs were registered in different parts of the state in connection with suspects misusing the names and/or impersonating the Lokayukta officers and extorting money from government officials from other departments.