Government names SIT to probe corruption charge in Lokayukta

BENGALURU: The government on Tuesday appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe corruption charges that has the state's corruption watchdog Lokayukta in the throes of a controversy. Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, whose son Ashwin Rao is charged with misusing his father's office, maintained that he would continue till charges are proved. Additional chief secretary SK Pattanayak told ET that the SIT will be headed by ADGP (Prisons) Kamal Panth, who will handpick his team of officers to investigate charges against Ashwin Rao and four others. The government did not set a timeframe for the investigation.
Addressing the media outside his office, Justice Rao said he would not resign till charges against his son were proved.“I have not done any mistake like former Lokayukta Shiv araj Patil to step down from my post and I will cooperate with the investigation. We will provide all the documents required for the investigation,“ he said.

AAP leader Ravi Krishna Reddy said: “We were waiting for his resignation today but he looks like a shameless person. So we have decided to protest in front of his residence on Wednesday.“

He further added that the AAP would file a case with the Police Complaints Authority against the High Grounds police. The police had not filed an FIR against Ashwin Rao and four others despite AAP's complaint, he said.

Meanwhile, Upa-Lokayukta Subhash B Adi raised a technical issue about the SIT investigation. “The Lokayukta police cannot hand over the case to an SIT without filing an FIR. I have directed Lokayukta SP Sonia Narang to continue with the investigation and file an FIR,“ he told