Karnataka Lokayukta corruption case: Officers paid money to avoid raids, claims HD Kumaraswamy
Mr Kumaraswamy alleged that IAS officers too have paid money to Lokayukta extortion team
BELAGAVI: JD(S) leader and former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday forwarded to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Speaker of the Assembly Kagodu Thimmappa a list of officials who allegedly paid money to ‘Lokayukta extortion team’ in order to ensure that the institution does not initiate action against them on charges of corruption.
In the Assembly, Mr Kumaraswamy vowed that he would forward the list to Mr Kagodu Thimmappa and Mr Siddaramaiah. By late evening, he submitted the list to the Speaker and to the Chief Minister.
Mr Kumaraswamy alleged that IAS officers too have paid money to this team. Ashwin Rao, son of Lokayukta Justice V. Bhaskar Rao, Rajshekar, a full-time broker at the Lokayukta office, Bhaskar, a journalist, and Syed Riyaz, joint commissioner (public relations), are in this team. Mr Riyaz functioned as the business promoter of the Lokayukta, Mr Kumaraswamy told the Assembly.
Interestingly, when Mr. Kumaraswamy mentioned these names, there was no opposition from ruling party legislators.
Truth behind scam will be buried: HDK
Former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said here on Wednesday that there is a mystery behind the corruption scandal in the Lokayukta cropping up at this juncture and the truth behind it will never come out.
Speaking to reporters in the Assembly lobby after the debate on the Lokayukta issue, he said that there is more to the entire episode than meets the eye. “It is not just about corruption in the Lokayukta. A number of people are involved in the episode to ensure that the scandal issue came into the public domain, so that some other issues are not raked up by the Lokayukta. A probe from any state investigation agency will end up in burying the entire issue,” he said.