JOIN US In a significant development, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing into corruption and extortion racket in the Lokayukta office, has registered another FIR, with a public servant stating to have paid money to Yerabati Ashwin, son of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, and others.
The FIR (61/2015) also names V Bhaskar and Murthy, a staff at the State DG&IGP office on Nrupatunga Road.
This is the first case in which a public servant has confirmed paying money to the Lokayukta’s son. The complainant is Uday Shankar, who was a chief engineer at the Public Works Department, Magadi sub-division. Sources said the Lokayukta police had taken up a suo motu case in 2012 on the irregularities in PWD works in the Magadi sub-division.
The Lokayukta police were waiting for the Prosecution Sanction Order (PSO) from the competent authority. Meanwhile, Murthy and Bhaskar approached him to get the issue settled by paying money to Ashwin.
The SIT has registered the FIR under Sections 384, 420 and 12 (b) of the IPC. Sources said Uday Shankar had stated that he had paid Rs five lakh to Ashwin through Murthy and Bhaskar. A senior official said that a few days ago, the government had communicated to the Lokayukta police according PSO against Uday Shankar.
Arrested
The SIT on Tuesday arrested H S Rajashekhar in connection with the FIR (60/2015) registered against Y Ashwin, Syed Riyaz, Bhaskar and others, based on the complaint filed by businessman-turned- politician P N Krishnamurthy. The SIT sleuths arrested Rajashekhar in Tiptur near Tumkur on Monday night.
According to the complaint, Krishnamurthy had paid money (Rs 10 lakh) to Bhaskar, who is now in judicial custody, in the presence of Rajashekhar.
Later, when Bhaskar did not get the khata done for Krishnamurthy’s property in Koramangala as promised, Krishnamurthy called up Bhaskar and asked him to return the money.
At that time, Rajashekhar returned Rs five lakh to Krishnamurthy.
The SIT officials said Rajashekhar was a close associate of Bhaskar. The SIT filed an application seeking police custody of Rajashekhar. The special court remanded Rajashekhar in police custody till August 26.