Former MLA questions Ashwin’s frequent visits to Sakleshpur

Accuses him of having connections with powerful sand lobby

Even as corruption charges rocked the Lokayukta institution, one more allegation has been made by a former MLA.

Filing a complaint before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, former MLA for Sakleshpur H.M. Vishwanath accused Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao’s son, Ashwin Y., of having connections with a powerful lobby of officers allegedly involved in illegal sand extraction and transportation in Sakleshpur taluk.

Mr. Vishwanath alleged that after he made a complaint to the Lokayukta about the thriving illegal sand mafia in the taluk, Mr. Ashwin often visited resorts in Sakleshpur.

In the letter, Mr. Vishwanath, who is a Congress leader, appealed to the Chief Minister to ask the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to also look into the sand dealings in Sakleshpur.

He told The Hindu over phone on Saturday that he had personally met Upalokayukta Subhash B. Adi in February this year and informed him about the illegal activities regarding sand extraction and transportation in the taluk. “As there was no action, I met Mr. Rao personally in May and as per his advice, my friend Vijit, also a native of Sakleshpur, filed an affidavit detailing the information we had. We had interacted with Joint Commissioner of Lokayukta Riyaz Ahmed for more than half an hour. He had also assured us of action. But nothing happened. Now, we suspect that the information we provided to the institution was utilised for making money,” he said.

Mr. Vishwanath alleged that after the affidavit was filed with the Lokayukta institution, illegal activities continued more rigorously. “I have information that Mr. Ashwin visited resorts in Sakleshpur after our affidavit was filed. Officers of the Revenue, Public Works, and Police have an understanding with many resorts, where they get free services for their guests. Mr. Ashwin has been the guest of these officers a couple of times.”

Letter to CM

When the alleged involvement of Mr. Ashwin was reported by the media, Mr. Vishwanath wrote a letter to the Chief Minister appealing him to include the Sakleshpur sand activities in the SIT.

“Despite repeated complaints to senior officers, no action has been taken to stop illegal activities in the taluk. Officers in Revenue, Mines and Geology, and Public Works have been getting regular income from those into illegal sand transportation. Their daily earning runs into lakhs of rupees. Mr. Siddaramaiah should conduct a probe,” he said.

H.M. Vishwanath appeals to the Chief Minister to ask the Special Investigation Team to also look into the sand dealings in Sakleshpur