Karnataka Lokayukta's son arrested by SIT in connection with alleged extortion racket

Bengaluru: Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao’s son was on Monday arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with an alleged extortion racket in the anti-graft ombudsman’s office. [caption id=“attachment_2365782” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao. IBNLive[/caption] The arrest of Ashwin Rao was made in Hyderabad, as the SIT, formed to probe the alleged racket that has also led to clamour for the resignation of Bhaskar Rao, intensified the investigation. “Yes, we have arrested Ashwin Rao, son of Justice Bhaskar Rao for his alleged involvement in bribery scandal,” SIT chief Kamal Pant told PTI in Bengaluru, adding that the arrest was made in Hyderabad. Ashwin’s arrest comes a day after Karnataka Lokayukta Joint Commissioner (PRO) Syed Riaz was taken into custody. Six persons have been arrested in the alleged bribery scandal so far. Ashwin was arrested based on an FIR filed against him after the bribery scandal broke out with charge that an executive engineer was asked to pay Rs 1 crore to avoid a raid. The SIT swung into action to arrest Ashwin after he was found not cooperating with SIT officials for interrogation. “We had issued a notice to Rao for his deposition before the officials for interrogation, but he did not turn up,” an SIT official said. The alleged scam came to light after Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Sonia Narang wrote a letter to Lokayukta Registrar about the complaint she received from the Executive Engineer, who alleged that someone from the Lokayukta office demanded Rs 1 crore in bribe to avoid a raid. Unfazed by the controversy, the Lokayukta has been sticking to his guns, despite growing calls that he should quit with both the houses of legislature rocked by the issue. BJP and JDS had even sought to move a motion in the legislature for his removal but in vain. Even as protests are being held by several organisations, including advocates and former Lokayukta and retired Supreme Court Judge Santosh Hegde, insisting that his continuance was affecting the credibility of Lokayuta itself, Rao has said he would quit only if the charges are proved. Facing allegations that it was softpedalling serious corruption charges, government last week introduced a bill in the legislature seeking to simplify procedures for the removal of the Lokayukta. PTI