Karanataka government protecting, misusing Lokayukta to fix opposition leaders: BJP

BENGALURU: Amid mounting pressure for removal of Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao over an alleged bribery scandal, BJP in the Karnataka Assembly today launched a scathing attack on the Congress government accusing it of "protecting and misusing" his office to "fix" important Opposition leaders.

"The state government is not taking any action against the Lokayukta. This makes it clear that the government is protecting and also misusing the Lokayukta institution to fix some opposition leaders, including two former chief ministers (Yeddyurappa and Kumaraswamy)," Opposition Leader Jagadish Shettar charged.

Participating in a debate on the Lokayukta graft issue allegedly involving Justice Rao's son and Lokayukta officials, Shettar said the government was misusing the Lokayukta by foisting cases against prominent opposition leaders based on CAG report, under the scrutiny of Public Accounts Committee.

Rao, a former High Court Chief Justice, is facing heat over the alleged scandal that has rocked the Lokayukta office with the Opposition demanding his resignation and a CBI probe into the issue and demonstrations being held daily by various groups for his exit.

An unfazed Rao has dismissed the charges, saying he would quit if they were proved.

"Based on the FIR filed against him, the government has all the powers to arrest Justice Rao's son for collecting Rs 200 crore as bribe," Shettar said.

Former law and parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar (BJP), quoting the Supreme Court order in the 2G scam, said though the apex court took cognisance of the scam through CAG report, it did not wholly agree to the findings as it was being examined by the PAC of Parliament.

Keeping this precedent in mind, the registration of cases against former chief ministers are in contravention of the Supreme Court order in the 2G scam, Kumar argued.