Corrupt in Lokayukta extorted money from many IAS officers, says HDK

July 2, 2015

Belagavi, Jul 2: Corrupt elements in the office of the Karnataka Lokayukta didn’t just target low-ranking bureaucrats; they extorted money even from senior IAS officers, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has claimed.

kumar swamy
Speaking about corruption in the Lokayukta, he explained to the Legislative Assembly the modus operandi reportedly used by corrupt elements in the Lokayukta. According to Kumaraswamy, two touts—Bhaskar and Rajashekar—had befriended Ashwin Rao, the son of Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao. They targeted government officials as per a list made by Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad’s private secretary, Nagaraj. The Lokayukta’s Public Relations Officer, Syed Riyazullah, is involved too, the former chief minister suggested.

Kumaraswamy claimed that many senior IAS officers sitting in the media gallery in the Assembly had paid up. His contention prompted many Congress and BJP members to demand that he name the IAS officers. But the JD(S) leader refused to reveal the names, saying that would “embarrass” the government.

Kumaraswamy didn’t just stop at that. He went on to state that Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee recently held a meeting with the principal secretary to the chief minister and other officials to discuss corruption in the Lokayukta. Many officials were transferred at this meeting, according to him. He demanded that the government disclose full details of the meeting.

BJP for CBI probe

The principal opposition party, the BJP, has demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the accusations against the Lokayukta. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Jagadish Shettar, suggested that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) could not probe into the accusations. The Lokayukta should own moral responsibility and step down, Shettar asserted.

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, however, turned down the demand for CBI probe, saying the government was not empowered to hand over this case to the CBI, as per section 80 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act.

When BJP members demanded that the Lokayukta Act be amended to empower the government to order a CBI probe, Siddaramaiah said that laws could not be amended in a hurry.

According to the chief minister, Justice (retd) Rao had written to the government, stating that the matter of corruption in the ombudsman’s office be investigated by an officer of the rank of the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). Hence, the government formed the SIT under ADGP Kamal Pant, he added.

Siddaramaiah further said that the government was planning to bring in comprehensive amendments to the Karnataka Lokayukta Act on the lines of the Lokpal. But BJP members remained unsatisfied with this reply and staged a walkout.

Speaking to the media later, Kumaraswamy said that the government had made all preparations to bury the case.

“When I raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly, the chief minister was silent. He would not have allowed me to speak, if there was no mistake on his part,” Kumaraswamy said. Nearly 20 higher officials gave money to the persons in Lokayukta institution, and probe should be conducted into this also, he added.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
May 12,2024

Mangaluru, May 12: In a shocking development, a group of pilgrims which had travelled from Mangaluru International Airport to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, to perform Umrah has alleged that 26,432 Saudi Riyals, which were kept in a bag, have been stolen. 

In a complaint submitted to the Bajpe Police, Soukath Banu, wife of Ahmed Iqbal of Ajyad Tours and Travels, said that her husband, Ahmed Iqbal, along with 35 members, planned and scheduled to perform the Umrah and were travelling from Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) via Mumbai to Jeddah. 

Soukath Banu had given Ahmed Iqbal 2,000 Saudi Riyals for performing Umrah and other expenses. The group members were also told to bring Saudi Riyals to meet their expenses.

In her plaint, Soukath stated that the group had left for Jeddah on an IndiGo flight via Mumbai, and their return ticket to India was booked for May 13. 

At the airport, she said that 26,432 Saudi Riyals were collected in total, and they decided to keep them in baggage that had a lock. Accordingly, it was kept in the bag of Mohammad Badruddin Kadambar. The airport staff had even questioned what he had kept in the bag. 

The group reached Jeddah on May 1. To their surprise, Kadambar found that the baggage lock was broken open, the zip was damaged, and cash was stolen upon reaching Jeddah.

DCP (Law and Order) Sidharth Goyal said that following the complaint, one round of CCTV checks was conducted at the MIA along with the CISF personnel. The loading at the MIA was intact.

Further checks have to be carried out at Mumbai and Jeddah Airport as the victim found out that cash was missing only when they got the bag at the final destination, he added.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
May 8,2024

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru North police have apprehended a minor in connection with alleged voyeurism incident reported in a private medical college in Mangaluru. 

DCP (Law and order) Sidharth Goyal said that the minor was produced before JJ Board as per due procedure. The incident came to light when a mobile phone was found in women's washroom in the college. 

The mobile-phone was discovered as it was ringing even when no one was in the toilet by the security guard of the college. 

Investigations revealed that the mobile phone had been strategically placed in the restroom. As a result, a case has been registered under north police station.

Further scrutiny into the matter uncovered the identity of the accused, a minor male aged 17, who had gained access to the college premises under the guise of being a patient. Following his apprehension, the accused was presented before the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board in adherence to legal protocols.

The phone has been seized and a case has been booked under IPC section 354 (C), said the DCP.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
May 10,2024

devarajegowda.jpg

A day after National Commission for Women said no woman from Hassan approached the national body to file complaints against Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna, a new FIR accusing BJP leader Devaraje Gowda of abusing and assaulting a woman has come to light.

The FIR against Gowda was filed by a woman at the Holenarasipura town police station on April 1, after her husband had filed a complaint against the BJP leader on March 30. 

The purported victim's husband has alleged in his plaint that Gowda barged into their home, and threatened the couple while the BJP leader also abused the woman.

Gowda, notably, flagged Prajwal Revanna's case to the saffron party.

Reacting to the allegations levelled against him, the BJP politico posted a video on Facebook where he details how he met the woman and her husband in his office. He also claims that the allegations against him are a plot and false.

It must be noted here that a Special Investigation Team is currently probing the sexual assault cases against Prajwal Revanna who along with his driver Karthik is no longer in the country. A Blue Corner notice is also in place to apprehend the son of H D Revanna who himself is placed under judicial custody till May 14.

In a major twist to the entire case— the woman in the FIR alleged that Devaraje Gowda who apprised BJP of the sex videos involving Prajwal Revanna— has been harassing her for the past 10 months under the guise of helping her sell a property.

The woman also said that she came in contact with Gowda during the process involving the property that she wanted to sell. However, on the pretext of guiding her, the woman alleged that the whistleblower BJP leader physically assaulted and harassed her while Gowda also threatened the couple.

The woman has now sought police protection for herself and family. Further levelling allegations against Gowda in her plaint, she said that the politico had taken her to an isolated place where he assaulted her and threatened to kill the couple.

Former chief minister of Karnataka and Prajwal Revanna's uncle H D Kumaraswamy recently demanded a CBI probe in the Prajwal Revanna matter. However, Home Minister G Parameshwara turned down the demand for the investigation to be handed over to CBI.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.