Karnataka Lokayukta corruption case: Tainted top guns in, can SIT get the truth out?

Bengaluru: Lokayukta Joint Commissioner (Public Relations) Syed Riyazathullah, who was arrested by the SIT formed to probe the Lokayukta corruption case, has been remanded to police custody for 10 days, till August 5.

Riyaz, who was arrested on Sunday afternoon, was produced before Lokayukta Judge V.G. Bopaiah at 3 pm on Monday. The SIT officials sought his custody for another 12 days, while Riyaz’s counsel Azmath Pasha filed an interim bail petition. Mr Pasha submitted that his client was suffering from hypertension and was availing treatment in a hospital when he was arrested.

“The police did not bother about his health condition and arrested him. They took him to the Victoria Hospital where a PG Medical student gave a report stating ‘no medical intervention needed’. It is highly possible that he would have done it at the behest of police officers. As my client needs medical treatment, he should be granted bail. Also, a person is remanded in police custody only when the police have to recover some property from him. In this case, the police need not arrest him as there is nothing to recover from him. He will cooperate with the investigating agency,” Mr Pasha submitted, adding that Riyaz developed hypertension due to false reports published in the media against him.

Public Prosecutor Ramesh Babu raised an objection, saying it is important for SIT officials to subject Riyaz to interrogation, as the case has to be investigated in various angles. “There is nothing to be recovered from him as of now. But the police need his custody as the nature of the offence is very serious. Though he had no health problems, he got himself admitted to the hospital to evade arrest. The doctor at the Victoria Hospital checked the blood pressure before giving the report,” he said.

At this point, Riyaz told the judge a PG Medical student gave the report and it was not valid. “Moreover, he did not even check me before giving the report.” he alleged. He then pleaded that he was innocent and had no role in the case. “I am ready to face trial and I also have some clues about the extortion racket. But I won’t tell it to any other agency except before court. I request the court to grant me bail. I have nothing to do with the case and I am thankful to the complainant, for he did not mention my name anywhere. The police have arrested me based on call detail records. The media has torn me apart.”

He said, “I pray to the court to verify my annual confidential report. All the five Lokayuktas, out of them four Supreme Court judges, have given me ‘excellent’ ranking. If I was corrupt, why they would have given good report? Please look into all these things,” he submitted and broke down.

He requested that he should be allowed to get treated by a doctor of his choice and should be allowed to get food from home. The judge, remanding him to police custody, dismissed the interim bail petition. He also directed the police to maintain fairness during the interrogation and provide medical aid to Riyaz whenever required.

As SIT detains Ashwin, demand for Rao’s resignation intensifies
 
After SIT officers detained Ashwin Y., unconfirmed reports did the rounds that his father, Lokayukta Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao, would soon quit his post. His absence from office fed fuel to the fire. But till late Monday evening, there was no confirmation from the office of the Lokayukta.

Some sources said that Justice Rao would meet Governor Vajubhai Vala in the evening and tender his resignation. But Mr Vala was busy with President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Mysuru and the city. It was said that Justice Rao was busy in his house with top advocates, discussing ways to get his son released and the legal issues involved in the case. However, following Ashwin’s detainment, the demand for Justice Rao’s resignation has gained momentum.

Ask lensmen to move: Riyaz to judge

Riyaz requested the judge to direct the police to clear the photojournalists waiting outside the court for him. “They have projected me in poor light and they will further damage my image. Please direct the police to clear them as I do not want to cover my face,” he submitted. For this, the police told the judge they would do their best to ensure it. Ironically, Riyaz was calling reporters and was requesting them to carry his photos and videos whenever there was a press conference or event in the Lokayukta office during his good times.

Riyaz tells interrogators he has no role in the case

Lokayukta Joint Commissioner (Public Relations) Syed Riyazathullah, arrested by the SIT formed to probe the Lokayukta corruption case on Sunday, reportedly told the interrogators that he has no role in the extortion racket.

SIT sources said that a team of officials was grilling Riyaz on his involvement in the case. “He is not ready to accept what he has done, though we produced details of his conversations with the other accused in the case. He told us that he was the public relations officer in the Lokayukta and many people called him for many reasons. Just because he spoke to them, it did not necessarily mean that he was involved in the racket, he told us,” the officer said.

“He said that some of the accused met him in his office and he would not have known they were running the extortion racket. Riyaz told us that he could not stop people from entering his office,” an official told Deccan Chronicle.

Riyaz’s counsel Azmath Pasha too submitted before the court that the investigating agency sleuths had cornered his client by wrongly using the information that he met a large number of people in his official position.