Bengaluru, Jul 25: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has intensified the search for Lokayukta Joint Commissioner (PRO) Syed Riyaz as it has been confirmed he has not returned from Umrah pilgrimage.
Sources in the Lokayukta said Riyaz had delivered air tickets, as directed by the Registrar (Lokayukta), through his office staff Pramod on Thursday. “The official letter asking him to submit proper leave application, along with the air tickets (to and fro), was sent to the residential address mentioned in Riyaz’s letter seeking extension of leave. However, the staff returned stating that the house in the National Games Village in Koramangala was locked and the neighbours too said Riyaz’s family had not returned. The reply to the letter was sent through a plainclothes constable, along with the air tickets. In this reply, Riyaz has stated that he came to know about the emergent letter through media reports,” an official said.
The Lokayukta officials found that only the onward journey ticket sent by Riyaz had the stamping, while the return journey ticket was without any authentication to prove he has come back.
As per the conditions imposed before sanctioning the leave, the official cannot extend his leave while on tour and cannot tender his resignation. With the photocopies of the air tickets submitted by Riyaz, it is reliably learnt that he has not come back to the country.
The SIT officials met Registrar M S Balakrishna on Friday and discussed the status of Riyaz’s leave. Sources said the office of the Lokayukta was waiting for Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao’s presence in the office to take further departmental action against Riyaz.
One of the main reasons the SIT officials require Riyaz’s presence is to question him on the custody of the key to the conference room, where Bengaluru zilla panchayat executive engineer Krishnamurthy was threatened and asked to cough up bribe by Y Ashwin, the son of Justice Rao.
There were two keys to the conference room and sources said both were with Riyaz. However, after the incident came to light, Justice Rao handed over one key to the administration wing of the Lokayukta on June 10. This handing over of the key was duly entered in the register, a source said.
“It has to be verified who opened the conference room on May 4, when Krishnamurthy was called and threatened for money. Riyaz will be asked to report to duty immediately. This will be communicated to him once the Lokayukta comes to office,” a source said.
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