Bengaluru: Law minister T B Jayachandra here on Wednesday said that the Lokayukta SIT team will continue its probe against former Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao.
Speaking to media persons, the minister clarified and said, “The investigating team is free to arrest or take a course of action against Bhaskar Rao in the future. There is no point in the government interfering in it”.
Earlier on Tuesday, Karnataka’s anti-corruption ombudsman or Lokayukta, Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, resigned and the much-awaited resignation was accepted by Governor Vajubhai Vala “with immediate effect”. Over the last several months, the opposition and the ruling party members have been demanding the ouster of the Lokayukta after he faced allegations of an extortion racket that was allegedly being run from his office.
Justice Rao’s son Ashwin was arrested in July this year for alleged involvement in extortion and corruption using information gained from the Lokayukta’s office. It was alleged that Ashwin Rao had demanded bribes to stop raids by Lokayukta officials.
“A High level meeting has been called today evening regarding the appointment of a new Upalokayukta. Chief Minister and chairpersons of both the houses will be present during the crucial meeting,” he added.
“I have instructed the Social Welfare department to prepare draft legislations on the ban on superstitions” he said.
Commenting on the Federation of University College Teachers’ Associations in Karnataka (FUKTAK) threat to boycott evaluation work at Bangalore University (BU), the minister said, “We have convinced Teacher’s associations who have boycotted evaluation”.
However, following a meeting with the Higher Education Minister T B Jayachandra, on Monday, the federation decided to call off the strike.
