Karnataka Ayukta scam: 5,000 audios hold the key?

BENGALURU: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is preparing additional chargesheets in the Lokayukta extortion case, has analysed more than 5,000 audio clippings of conversation between the accused and are including some of them in the chargesheet.

It is also learnt that the analysis revealed that a Superintendent of Police was also in touch with one of the accused. SIT sources said that the investigating teams have seized several mobile phones belonging to the accused.

“Over 5,000 recorded conversations were found in the seized mobile phones. All the audio files were analysed and we have picked up 60 out of it, which can be a clinching evidence against the accused,” an official said.

The officials are transcribing the conversations to include them in the chargesheets. “It’s a laborious process and takes a lot of time. Some conversations last more than 30 minutes.

The accused have spoken in length about their modus operandi. Each detail has to be recorded. The conversations will be given to the court in print format along with CDs containing the audio files,” the official added.

Further, the SIT has also sent the audio clippings to the Forensic Science Laboratory for voice tests. “As per the procedure, we have sent the clippings to the FSL for voice tests. The voice testing experts will have to certify that the voice in the audio is of the accused persons,” the official said.

“The report submitted by the experts will also be included in the chargesheet,” the official added. It is learnt that the SIT has found out most of the conversations related to the case filed by industrialist and KPCC member P.N. Krishnamurthy.
In this case, Ashwin Yerabati, V. Bhaskar, Syed Riyaz, Rajashekar, Narasimha Rao and Sadiq are named as the accused.

SP in touch with accused

During the analyses of audio clippings, the SIT found that a Superintendent of Police (SP) was in contact with accused M. B. Srinivasa Gowda, a journalist. “On the evening of the day the first complaint was registered, Gowda calls up the SP, who is on the verge of retirement now. Gowda tries to know the details of the complaint through the SP. Both will speak badly about a senior police official, who was a part of the investigating team in the Lokayukta. In
connection with this, the SP was summoned by the SIT and was questioned. However, he had no involvement in the extortion racket,” the
official said.