Lokayukta probe: Son Ashwin in custody, Justice Rao goes on leave

BENGALURU: Ashwin (46), son of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao and the alleged mastermind behind the extortion racket within the anti-corruption agency, was sent to police custody for 10 days by a special court here on Tuesday. Ever since the news of his arrest broke out on Monday, Justice Rao skipped office, and has gone on two-week leave.

His absence, Lokayukta officials said, had not disrupted any work at the organisation. Rao did not take calls, and it is not known yet if he will consider stepping down in view of his son's arrest on serious charges.

The police team picked up Ashwin from his flat in Rainbow Apartments in Kukatpalli in Hyderabad on Mon day based on a complaint from PWD engineer Channabasappa who alleged that Ashwin had demanded a bribe of Rs.20 lakh to clear him from a pending ` case. Alongside, he is also fighting charges of demanding Rs 1 crore as bribe from a zilla panchayat engineer in return for saving him from raids.