Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Jul 16: The Lokayukta, Justice Y Bhaskar Rao who visited his office regularly during the period when corruption charges were levelled against him and the demands for his resignation were made, has gone on leave from Wednesday, it is learnt.

As per sources, the Lokayukta will be on leave till this Saturday and he has gone to Andhra Pradesh. After the corruption charges against him became a bigger issue in last two weeks, though he visited his office without any break, his remained there only till afternoon. Sometimes he visited his office just to show that he was present because he worked only for few hours.

Meanwhile demand for the resignation of Lokayukta has intensified. The issue was raised again in the legislative assembly by BJP members on Wednesday. Jagadish Shettar, S Suresh Kumar and others participated in the debate and demanded that Lokayukta corruption case should be handed over to CBI. They said, as the anti corruption bureau itself is allegedly involved in corruption, it is difficult for it to handle cases against corruption. They reminded that in many cases FIRs have been filed but the accused have not been arrested.

Protestors arrested

Hundreds of protestors including S Doreiswamy, S R Hiremat were arrested on Wednesday when they protested against the refusal of Lokayukta to resign. It is said the protestors had gathered with the intention of locking the Lokayukta office.

High court angry

In a hearing on Wednesday, the state high court came down heavily on Lokayukta. Justice A N Venugopala while hearing the arguments in a corruption case filed by Lokayukta said that Lokayukta has not been functioning properly in handling the corruption cases. He said there are attempts to close the big cases.

There are more than 2500 cases which are still in the initial investigation level.