JOIN USThe Special Investigating Team (SIT), probing into corruption in the Lokayukta institution, will seek the custody of Y Ashwin, son of Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao, in connection with the third FIR registered on Monday.
Politician and businessman P N Krishnamurthy, in his complaint to the SIT, has stated that V Bhaskar, a key accused in the extortion racket, had promised to get the khata transfer done for a property for considerably less money than Ashwin had demanded.
Krishnamurthy stated that Ashwin had demanded a bribe of Rs 40 lakh to get the khata done for a property in Koramangala. When his work was not done for a long time, Bhaskar alias ‘420’ Bhaskar offered to get it done for Rs 20 lakh. The complaint also stated that Krishnamurthy had paid Rs 10 lakh to Bhaskar, besides Rs 5 lakh cash given to Ashwin at a star hotel in UB City.
Bhaskar had collected the original land documents from Krishnamurthy and they were with suspended Joint Commissioner (PRO) Syed Riyaz. When Krishnamurthy asked for his documents, Riyaz threatened to destroy the originals if the remaining money was not paid. When the original documents could not be collected, Krishnamurthy threatened to approach the police. At that time, Bhaskar again demanded Rs two lakh to return the original papers. Krishnamurthy stated that Riyaz returned the original documents at his office after he paid Rs two lakh to Bhaskar.
According to the complaint, Krishnamurthy had met Bhaskar, Sadiq and other accused in at least six hotels in the city. Krishnamurthy claims to have paid money to Bhaskar at Hotel Race View, Hotel IBIS, and Le Meridian.
Bail orders on Monday
The Lokayukta special court has reserved the orders on the applications filed by Y Ashwin, seeking bail in two cases, to August 17. Ashwin had filed an application seeking anticipatory bail in the first FIR and bail in the second FIR, based on which he was arrested.
The special public prosecutor for the SIT, K Janardan, appealed to the court to dismiss the applications. Janardan stated that in the second FIR (58/2015), the investigating agency had documentary evidence supported by the evidence given by the hotel staff at High-Tech City in Hyderabad.
“The complainant has given a statement before the magistrate in this case and also identified Ashwin. Incriminating documents were also seized from Ashwin’s house in Hyderabad. The SIT is receiving information on a daily basis,” he stated, adding that Ashwin had damaged the reputation of the Lokayukta institution and the trust of the common man.
Ashwin’s advocate Sandeep Patil said it was a conspiracy to fix his client in the case. He said the SIT police had started questioning Ashwin in connection with the second case even before the FIR was registered on July 27.