The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged corruption case in Lokayukta, has made considerable headway in the probe and charting the modus operandi of the multiple gangs of extortionists operating in the Lokayukta and their links.
SIT sources said that they have found Lokayukta Joint Commissioner Syed Riyaz, who has been the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Lokayukta for more than 18 years now, to be one of the kingpins co-ordinating with the multiple gangs. Evidence also shows that the keys to the second floor conference room, where the complainant was allegedly threatened, were in his custody.
Syed Riyaz, who had applied for a 17 day leave from July 1 to July 17, to go on Umrah pilgrimage, has not reported back on duty. His air tickets with the Lokayukta administration indicate that he has not returned from the pilgrimage. SIT officials confirmed that his arrest and interrogation is necessary to pin down the role of the accused Ashwin Rao in the murky affair.
SIT has now issued a lookout notice for Syed Riyaz, across airports and all entry and exit points to the country. “We have no confirmation whether he is in the country or abroad. He is untraceable. So we have issued a lookout notice. This will help us arrest him if he either enters the country or tries fleeing,” an official said.
Meanwhile SIT officials are on a manhunt to nab Sadiq, Syed Riyaz’s brother-in-law, who is also allegedly involved in the ring and was a tout for Riyaz. Teams have fanned out to Hassan and Shivamogga on his trail.
Multiple teams
SIT sources said that there are multiple teams of extortionists, independent of each other, operating in Lokayukta and targeting Government officials.
The three arrested till date, Ashok Kumar, Srinivas Gowda and Shankare Gowda make up one team, who were involved in making calls to and threatening the complainant M.N. Krishnamurthy. Their modus operandi was to threaten and extort money after securing information on the officer through RTI Act.
SIT sources said that another team of about four touts including V. Bhaskar, Hotte Krishna and others target officials in a similar way. However, it was unlikely that this gang was involved with the complainant.
Sources confirmed that the Call Detail Records (CDR) of most of these touts show that they were in constant touch with Syed Riyaz. Interrogation has also revealed the links and the involvement of Syed Riyaz with these touts, sources said.
