The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed both Lokayukta and Upalokayukta not to direct any in-house investigation and await the report of the Special Investigating Team (SIT) appointed by the State Government on the alleged corruption within the Lokayukta institution.
A Division Bench Comprising Justice N. Kumar and Justice B. Sreenivase Gowda passed the interim order on a petition filed by Ashwin Rao, son of Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao.
The petitioner questioned the order of Upalokayukta Subhash B. Adi, who had asked Superintendent of Police, Lokayukta Police to investigate into the complaints of corruption allegedly involving Mr. Rao's son.
Under the scheme if the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, the Bench said, there is no provision which empowers both the Lokayukta and the Upalokayukta to investigate the same issue in question.
"As the complaint now is against the officials of the Lokayukta itself, as observed by the Lokayukta, it is appropriate that it is conducted by an outside agency," the Bench said.
"In order to avoid conflicting findings, it is appropriate that the Lokayukta and the Upalokayukta shall not direct any in -house inquiry and await the report of the SIT," the Bench said while noticing that the Government has already constituted for this purpose.
Fact files
- » Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao's son Ashwin Rao allegedly asked for Rs. One crore bribe from PWD engineer.
- » Superintendent of Police (Lokayukta) Sonia Narang submitted a report to the Registrar on May 11, seeking permission for further probe.
- » Lokayukta Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao on June 26, 2015 announced the handing over of the case to the CCB for further investigation.
- » Karnataka High Court has barred Lokayukta and Upalokayukta from ordering in-house inquiry to avoid conflicting findings
- » Advocates in Bengaluru, Mandya, Hubballi, Tumakuru and Kolar staged protest demanding Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao resignation
- » Lokayukta police have registered a suo moto case against Ashwin Rao under section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and sections 384, 419, 420, 120(B) of IPC.
- » Earlier during the day, members of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly demanded a detailed discussion on the alleged corruption charges in Lokayukta.
