Karnataka extortion case: Lokayukta’s son part of larger conspiracy, says SIT

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The SIT in its objections has stated that Ashwin Rao “misused the premises and office of the Lokayukta and meeting hall adjacent to the chambers of PRO of Lokayukta” as part of the alleged extortion conspiracy. The call detail records obtained during investigations “clearly establishes” that Rao was in constant touch with three other key accused in the extortion racket – middlemen V Bhaskar and Ashok Kumar and Lokayukta PRO Syed Riyazathullah, the SIT has stated.

According to the SIT, though Ashwin Rao has been arrested only in connection with an extortion attempt on one government official, his arrest in a second case is likely at any time. “Considering the fact that petitioner is the son of the Hon’ble Lokayukta and he is in a position to wield influence on the prosecution witnesses he in not entitled to anticipatory bail,” the SIT has argued. The SIT has also claimed to have unearthed incriminating material against Ashwin Rao in the course of a search of his house in Hyderabad.

While a case was initially registered against Ashwin Rao and others for summoning Bengaluru Urban district executive engineer M N Krishnamurthy to the Lokayukta office on May 4, 2015 to place a demand for a bribe of Rs one crore to prevent initiation of Lokayukta corruption proceedings the son of the Lokayukta was eventually arrested by the SIT in connection with another case registered on the basis of a complaint by an irrigation department engineer PB Channabasappa who alleged that Ashwin Rao and others demanded Rs 20 lakh to make a Lokayukta corruption case go away.

The SIT has in other statements of objection to bail applications said that cell tower analysis had revealed that three of the middlemen, including realtor Ashok Kumar who allegedly made the telephone call summoning executive engineer Krishnamurthy to the Lokayukta office were together on May 4 when the government official was called to the Lokayukta’s office. The trio of middlemen were also frequently in touch with the Lokayukta PRO and Justice Bhaskar Rao’s son Ashwin Rao, the SIT has stated.

The SIT also informed the special Lokayukta court that middlemen Ashok Kumar and Shankare Gowda, and Lokakyukta PRO Riyazathullah had destroyed crucial evidence including some SIM cards and mobile handsets used in the conspiracy.