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.

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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.

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News Network
March 16,2024

Mangaluru: In the wake of complaints regarding middlemen menace, sleuths of Lokayukta on Friday, March 15, conducted a raid at the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority. 

The Lokayukta team found unaccounted money and several files, which were not disposed of for a long period.

Lokayukta SP CA Simon said that the Lokayukta has received complaints that middlemen have been interfering in the MUDA office, and files pertaining to the public are not being cleared on time.

A raid that commenced in the evening on March 13, lasted for 18 hours. During the raid, Lokayukta officials found cash in a bag in MUDA office, and also with officials and others. MUDA officials could not inform the source of money found in their office, the SP said.

Further, he said that many people gathered at the MUDA office during the Lokayukta raid, and have raised complaints about the harassment at the urban development authority. “We have gathered evidence for MUDA officials carrying out file disposal processes through brokers on phone calls. The investigation on the MUDA network will be continued,” he said.

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News Network
March 13,2024

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An LPG tanker overturned on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru National Highway 75 on Wednesday morning. 

According to police, the tanker overturned at a curve near Double Turn, on Shiradi Ghat road, in Sakleshpur taluk, as the driver lost control.

As there was LPG leakage due to the mishap, the authorities have closed the highway for vehicular movement, as a precautionary measure.

The Fire and Emergency Services personnel and police were rushed to the spot and taken precautionary measure to prevent any fire mishap.

Several vehicles have been stranded midway as the police have closed the road for traffic.

The police have been diverting vehicles plying between Bengaluru-Hassan-Mangaluru, Mangaluru-Hassan-Bengaluru on alternative routes.

According to Deputy Commissioner C Sathyabhama, the vehicular movement has been banned on NH-75, until Wednesday midnight.

The DC's order stated that the vehicle moving from Sakleshpur to Mangaluru will have to pass through Sakleshpur-Hanubalu-Mudigere to reach Mangaluru.

The vehicles from Bengaluru to Mangaluru will pass via Hassan-Bhuvanahalli Cross-Belur. The vehicles from Mangaluru to Bengaluru are diverted via Suliya-Sampaje route. 

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News Network
March 13,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 13: Karnataka government has not yet discussed the issue of implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in the State, and the Cabinet will take a call on it, Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Wednesday.

The Centre on Monday announced the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, a move that comes four years after the contentious law was passed and paves the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

"We have not yet discussed it. If the Chief Minister says it has to be discussed and decided in the Cabinet, we will decide it. Whether to accept or reject it has to be decided by the Cabinet," Parameshwara told reporters.

The rules were notified days ahead of the expected announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. With this, the Modi government will now start granting Indian nationality to self-proclaimed persecuted non-Muslim migrants — Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians — from the three countries.

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