Karnataka Lokayukta corruption case: Governor to keep his hands off

Bengaluru: Notwithstanding speculation that Governor Vajubai Vala would intervene to resolve the crisis at the Lokayukta, the Karnataka Raj Bhavan has reportedly decided to go by the rulebook. Since there is no scope for the governor to step in, he will not intervene, sources said.

As many organisations and individuals had petitioned the governor asking him to persuade Lokayukta Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao to resign, there was speculation that he would meet the former Supreme Court justice.

On Thursday, the buzz was that Mr Vala had summoned Justice Rao, but government sources said that the governor, who is clear about his role as per the Lokayukta Act, will not intervene.

“The governor has no role in removing the Lokayukta. The Raj Bhavan will not interfere in this crisis,” they clarified. On the petitions with Mr Vala, sources said that all the pleas were sent to the government with the note, “Please act as per the rules.”

Asked whether he would play an ethical role to uphold the dignity of Lokayukta, sources clarified that if the governor attempts anything on those lines, it could lead to judicial scrutiny.

Many protests, one demand

The protests demanding resignation of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao intensified on Friday with various organisations carrying out rallies in different parts of the city.

The federation of various advocates associations took out a march from Mysore Bank Circle to Mahatma Gandhi statue on M.G. Road. Former Lokayukta Justice N. Santhosh Hegde joined them in the protest. Addressing the agitators, Justice Hegde said the allegations were not just against the institution, but against the son of the head of the institution.

“Justice Rao has no moral right to continue and he must resign. Though there are many protests, he is behaving like he has no connection to it. It is appropriate to hand over the case to the CBI as people have no trust in the SIT constituted to probe the case. These developments give rise to suspicion that the government was trying to safeguard Justice Rao,” he said.

Meanwhile, workers of the JD (S) also took out a march from Gandhi statue near Maurya Circle till Freedom Park while the members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) protested near Freedom Park. As the KRV members tried to block the vehicular movement near Freedom Park, the police detained them and released after a while.

Near Lokayukta’s office, Kranthi Yuva Shakti organisation members staged a protest and were arrested by police when they tried to barge inside the office. They were later released.