From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jul 30: Even as the Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao is in the eye of a political storm and is facing a public agitation for his resignation over the bribery and extortion scandal involving his own son Ashwin as well as the Public Relations Officer Syed Riaz and others, the action of Justice Bhaskar Rao in issuing a notice to the Opposition leader JagadishShettar over an alleged bribery complaint came under severe criticism from the former BJP chief minister in the State Assembly on Thursday.
It was a travesty of truth and ironical that the Justice Bhaskar Rao, who is under intense pressure from the political parties and the general public as well as prominent citizens, including the former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, to quit over the scandal, should have no qualms over issuing a notice on a complaint by T D R Harishchandra without verifying the veracity, the former BJP Chief Minister said.
T D R Harishchandra had filed a "flimsy" complaint before the Lokayukta that he (Shettar) had allegedly received Rs 2 crore bribes in 2002 from the then chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Initiating a debate on the Karnataka Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly primarily for removal of Justice Rao, the BJP leader said the Lokayukta issued notice to him without verifying the complaint properly.
There was no substance in the complaint made byHarishchandra against him, he claimed.
The BJP leader urged the State Government to amend the Lokayukta Act to prevent receiving such frivolous and unfounded complaints by the agency.
Members cutting across party lines criticised the functioning of Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao from his residence and said Justice Rao has virtually challenged the State Government on the issue of his removal.
Even as the public, advocates and legislators demanded resignation of Justice Rao, he continued to hold the office and clearing files from home, Shettar said.
Lokayukta Justice Rao’s son is at the centre of a controversy for allegedly being a key player in the extortion racket in collusion with some officials of the body. The Special Investigation Team was conducting the probe.
"The functioning of the Lokayukta made us to put our heads down," remarked Assembly SpeakerKagoduThimmappa said and asked members to give suggestions for the removal of anti-graft ombudsman.
"Justice Bhaskar Rao has challenged the State Government, the legislature and the society," senior BJP leader S Suresh Kumar said and urged the State Government to move an one-line amendment for removal of the Lokayukta by simple majority in the House.
"What is the guarantee that Justice Bhaskar Rao returns all the files taken to his home?," he asked.
"Justice Bhaskar Rao takes files to home and clears it from home,"Shettar said adding that some kind of vacuum has been created in the agency since the Lokayukta had not handed over the charge during his 15-day leave.
He also demanded immediate suspension of Syed Riyaz, Public Relations Officer (PRO), who had been arrested, as a Government officer under detention for 48 hours has to be suspended under the rules.
Shettar demanded the State Government to refer the Bill either to the House committee or the joint legislature committee for bringing out comprehensive amendments to the 1984 Act.
He suggested that the motion for the removal of the Lokayukta to be passed by two-third members of the present and voting and not by simple majority as mentioned in the Bill.