Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao disclosed his assets to presspersons on the sidelines of a book launch in Bangalore on Saturday.
He said he owned 1 acre and 38 guntas of dry land in Andhra Pradesh, a house in Adarshnagar in Bangalore, two bank deposits of Rs. 15 lakh each, pension accounts and two cars.
Asked why he had not made his assets public so far, he said: “I don’t have anything to fear. I don’t have anything to hide.”
Later, speaking about his work, he said he had disposed of over 1,000 cases since >his appointment on February 14, 2013. Asked about what his recommendations to the new government were, he pointed out his department was short-staffed. “I have discussed this matter with the Chief Secretary, who has assured to address this issue.”
Earlier, during the launch of Fighting Corruption: The Way Forward , edited by Samuel Paul, he said there was a need to bring about a change in the public’s mindset if corruption was to be addressed.
Mr. Paul said: “Civil society needs to play an active role and challenge the problem [corruption].”
The former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court M.N. Venkatachaliah urged the Lokayukta to set up institutions at the taluk-level to address public concerns.
