Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao, who is in the eye of the storm over allegations of an extortion ring active in Lokayukta office and his son being a part of it, spoke to The Hindu on Sunday.
Q. There has been a growing clamour for your resignation. Some have suggested that you go on leave till the probe is completed.
A. I see no reason why I should resign or go on leave at this juncture. The probe will be carried out by an independent agency. If anything against me or my family is proved, the next minute I will resign as the Lokayukta. There is no question of my resignation now.
But the allegations are also against your son Ashwin Rao. Was your son in anyway involved in the Lokayukta affairs?
All allegations against my son are false. I am confident that he will come out clean in a fair probe. Let the truth prevail.
Is it true that there is a turf war in the Lokayukta?
There is no turf war in the Lokayukta. I do not have any enmity with any individual. I am a person who prays every day for cordial relationship with one and all. The turf war is only speculation.
You have now written to the government to appoint any independent agency. Why not recommend a CBI probe as it is being demanded?
I initially ordered a probe by the Central Crime Branch (CCB). But in the changed circumstances, I do not want anybody to again point fingers. So I have written to the government to appoint any agency, which it sees as fit. It is not on my part to suggest what the government should do, whether it should hand it over to the CBI. Let them take the call.
