Justice Shetty defended Reddy, DKS?in corruption cases: NGO

January 11, 2017

Bengaluru, Jan 11: Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) on Tuesday raised theconflict of interest' angle in the state government's recommendation of Justice P Vishwanath Shetty's name for the post of Lokayukta.

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In a memorandum to Governor Vajubhai Vala, SPS said Justice Shetty had appeared for former minister Gali Janardhana Reddy before the Supreme Court in the sensationalcash for bail' scam.

The NGO has said that Justice Shetty had also appeared in the Supreme Court as a senior advocate for Energy Minister D K Shivakumar in his petition seeking quashing of the Lokayukta police chargesheet.

“It is pertinent to mention here that the consideration of Justice Vishwanath Shetty's name for the post of Lokayukta was not discussed semantically. For, Justice Shetty as a senior counsel in the Supreme Court, has been actively associated with politicians accused of serious cases of corruption. Besides, Justice Shetty has had a long association and background of working for Gali Janardhana Reddy and D K Shivakumar in important cases before the Supreme Court.

Both these cases are still pending before the Supreme Court and some other cases against the same accused are pending before the institution of Lokayukta, Lokayukta police and Lokayukta courts. Now, if appointed as Lokayukta, Justice Shetty will have to fight against the same persons. Which poses a serious conflict of interest,” the memorandum stated. The memorandum has attached documents to substantiate these submissions.

Besides the allotment of a site measuring 9,600 sq ft in Judicial Layout in the name of Justice Shetty in violation of Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) allotment rules, SPS has alleged that Justice Shetty's son has purchased an upmarket apartment from a Cabinet minister in the state government. The memorandum states that Justice Shetty's son, Shashikiran Shetty, a senior advocate, “has purchased an apartment (No 22/A) measuring super built-up area of 2,865 sq ft at Cunningham Road from Water Resources Minister Mallana Goud Basavana Goud Patil (M B Patil) for a consideration amount of Rs 5.75 crore”.

“With the present serious crisis of confidence that this institution (Lokayukta) is facing in recent months, the public will be hesitant and wary of approaching the institution for addressing their grievances. Hence, under the circumstances, we humbly request you not to consider the recommendation until the enquiry into the properties and other matters relating to Justice Vishwanath Shetty and his family members are completed and his name is cleared,” the memorandum stated.

He was CM's choice: Shettar

Opposition party leaders can only suggest the names for the post of Lokayukta. However, it is the responsibility of the government to select the right candidate, said Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar.

Speaking to mediapersons on Tuesday, he said his party had suggested three names - Justices N K Patil, Anand Byra-reddy and P?Vishwanath Shetty - during the committee meeting chaired by the chief minister to select the candidate. However, it was Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who finalised the name of Justice Shetty, who is facing charges of obtaining a residential plot in Judicial Layout in Bengaluru by submitting a false affidavit.

“The provisions in the Lokayukta Act give powers to the Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses and the Chief Justice of the High Court only to suggest names. The final decision rests with the chief minister,” he said. Siddaramaiah said in New Delhi that Justice Shetty had denied all charges and he was the unanimous choice of the selection panel.

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May 18,2024

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Bengaluru, May 18: JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda, who turned 92 on Saturday, broke his silence on the sexual abuse charges leveled against his grandson and MP Prajwal Revanna. He stated that he has no objection to the action taken against him if found guilty. However, he mentioned that the cases against his son, JD(S) MLA HD Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual harassment and kidnapping of a woman, were 'created'. He refrained from further commenting as the matter is sub judice.

Recently, Gowda announced his decision not to celebrate his birthday and requested well-wishers and party workers to wish him from wherever they are.

"... I don't want to comment on things that are going on in the court regarding Revanna. Prajwal Revanna has gone abroad. Regarding that, Kumaraswamy (Gowda's other son and state JD(S) chief) has, on behalf of our family, said it is the duty of the government to take action in accordance with the law of the land," Gowda said.

Addressing reporters, the former PM said, "There are several people connected to these sexual abuse cases. I don't want to mention anyone's names. Kumaraswamy has stated that those involved in this matter should face action, and the affected women should get justice and compensation."

"There is no objection from us to taking action against Prajwal. But people have come to know the facts about the allegations made against Revanna, how the case has been created. In one case, he has been granted bail, and in another case, the judgment is expected day after tomorrow... I don't want to comment on it," he said, concurring with Kumaraswamy's statement that if found guilty, no one should be spared.

Prajwal (33) is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women. The scandal has sparked a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaged in a slugfest.

Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27 and is still at large. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice has been issued against him in an effort to bring him back.

He was the BJP-JD(S) alliance's joint candidate from the Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls on April 26.

Meanwhile, Gowda's 66-year-old son, Revanna, a former Minister, has been granted interim anticipatory bail from a court here in a sexual harassment case in which his son Prajwal is also an accused.

Asked whether there was a conspiracy to defame and politically scuttle his family, Gowda said, "It is true... considering all that has happened, several people are involved. I won't mention names. Kumaraswamy will address what action needs to be taken."

Responding to a query on BJP leader and advocate G Devaraje Gowda's allegations that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is behind the circulation of a pen drive containing explicit videos involving Prajwal Revanna, Gowda said Kumaraswamy will respond to all of this.

"We have seen in the media what Devaraje Gowda has said. Kumaraswamy, as the party's state President, has been actively responding to all this. He will speak. I won't at this point. I had campaigned for the Lok Sabha polls. On June 4, after the Lok Sabha poll results are announced, I will meet with you (media)," he added.

Gowda also appealed to media persons campaigning near his house to end it. "I also appeal to your owners."

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May 12,2024

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In an intriguing turn of events, authorities have levied a fine against an actress for breaching traffic regulations depicted within a television serial.

In the 14th episode of the popular serial ‘Seetha Raama’ a Kannada language drama series airing on Zee Kannada, a scene featuring two individuals riding a scooter caught the attention of viewers. While the rider adhered to safety protocols by wearing a helmet, the actress on the pillion did not.

Jayaprakash Yekkur, a vigilant resident of Mangaluru, took swift notice of this discrepancy and promptly lodged a complaint with the Mangaluru City Police Commissioner. Yekkur underscored the concern that such portrayals of traffic violations by actors and actresses could potentially convey misleading messages to viewers, particularly those who are impressionable. He urged authorities to take decisive legal action against the actress, the serial’s director, and the broadcasting channel.

In response to Yekkur’s complaint, the Commissioner of Police forwarded the matter to the Mangaluru Traffic Police station. Subsequently, notices were issued to the owner of the two-wheeler featured in the scene and the serial’s director. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the scene had been filmed in Nandini Layout, Bengaluru, and was referred to the Rajajinagar police station for further scrutiny.

On May 10, after thorough inquiries, the Rajajinagar police station imposed a fine of Rs 500 on both the actress and the owner of the two-wheeler. Furthermore, the production manager of the serial committed to adhering strictly to traffic regulations in future episodes.

Expressing his contentment with the resolution, Jayaprakash Yekkur commented that the prompt response from the police, coupled with the imposition of a fine, serves as a valuable lesson and contributes significantly to enhancing public awareness.

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May 7,2024

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The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) on Monday responded to Karnataka’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) regarding a blue corner notice issued against JDS MP Prajwal Revanna.

In its response, Interpol said that all 196 member countries were alerted to identify and report if Prajwal Revanna is spotted at any port in their jurisdiction.

The Karnataka government issued a Blue Corner Notice on Sunday against Prajwal Revanna, who is facing allegations of sexual abuse by his staff members.

A Blue Corner Notice is issued by the international police cooperation body to collect additional information from its member countries about a person’s identity, location or activities about a crime.

The notice was issued after the 33-year-old Hassan MP reportedly flew to Germany soon after the Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary wrote to the CM to order a probe into the sexual allegations against Prajwal.

Last week, the anticipatory bail application of Prajwal Revanna was also denied by Justice Santosh Gajanana Bhat’s bench of People’s Representative Court in Bengaluru.

Earlier, his MLA father and son of former Prime Minster HD Deve Gowda, HD Revanna was remanded to Karnataka SIT custody in a kidnapping-related sex scandal case.

His arrest came after the kidnapped victim was rescued from Revanna’s close assistant Rajasekhar’s farmhouse in Kalenahalli, Hunsur Taluk after the SIT conducted the rescue operation to find her, the police said.

The abduction case was filed by the son of a woman who worked at the Revannas’ house for nearly five years. He alleged that his mother was kidnapped from her home on April 29 by Satish Babanna a relative of Revanna.

The Karnataka Sex Scandal case pertains to explicit video clips allegedly involving the 33-year-old Prajwal, grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, which went viral on social media.

Those videos began to make rounds in Hassan in recent days, following which the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the sexual abuse allegations against the MP.

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