Bengaluru, Oct 21 (DHNS): Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, the embattled Lokayukta whose son is accused of running an extortion racket in the anti-corruption watchdog, has extended his leave for the fourth time since July. He informed the Lokayukta’s in-charge registrar on Tuesday that he was extending his leave for 45 days starting October 22.

Even after he remains off work for 45 days, he will be left with 100 days of leave, said sources in the Lokayukta.

Justice Rao’s prolonged absence is affecting the watchdog’s functioning. The number of files awaiting his approval has gone up to 1,000. Among them is the complaint against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Arkavathi Layout denotification, which is in the stage of final scrutiny.

Justice Rao had first went on leave on July 27, the day his son Yerabati Ashwin was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for running the extortion racket. He was on leave till August 15 and extended it till August 30.

He then extended it to September 30 and from then till October 21. On Tuesday, he mailed a letter to the in-charge registrar, M S Balakrishna, informing him that he will avail himself of his earned leave for the next 45 days. Justice Rao has neither cited any reasons for the leave nor delegated his powers to the Upalokayukta, Justice Subhash B Adi.

Sources said several reports recommending action against IAS, IPS, IFS and other government officials were pending with the Lokayukta.

360 complaints pending

“Close to 360 complaints filed in the last three months are pending for the Lokayukta’s approval for further action. These complaints have passed preliminary scrutiny. There are also hundreds of cases in the stage of final scrutiny,” a senior official said.

The complaint against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about illegal de-notification of land in Arkavathi Layout is also under final scrutiny. The case can reach a conclusion once the Lokayukta assumes charge, the official added.

The SIT named Ashwin the prime accused in four charge sheets it filed before the Lokayukta Special Court. Its senior police officers had grilled Justice Rao at his Hyderabad residence on September 10 in connection with the corruption cases. But since there was no evidence that he abetted the accused, the SIT included his statement, denying all allegations of abetment, as a witness testimony.