Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 24: The special investigation team (SIT) formed to look into the corruption scandal which rocked state Lokayukta, has sought to include the name of former state Lokayukta, Justice Dr Y Bhaskar Rao, as an accused in the first case filed by SIT, which has been numbered as 56/2015.

SIT had written to the government on February 10 this year for permission to name Justice Rao. Based on the letter, the state government, on Tuesday February 23, wrote to the governor,it is learnt.

The team has reasons to believe that Justice Rao had a role in the above case, which was registered on the basis of complaint filed by M N Krishnamurty, working for Bengaluru city district zilla panchayat. After finding that the former Likayukta could be a party in this case, the team wrote for the government's permission to include his name in the case under section 107 of Criminal Proedure Code, said Kamal Pant, who is heading the SIT. It is learnt that under section 19 of Prevention of Corruption Act, no such permission is required.

Allegedly, Krishnamurty was summoned to Lokayukta office, where he was threatened with raid failing payment of one crore rupees. The team is said to have gathered enough evience to implicate Justice Rao. It has plans to file additional charge sheet after securing permission to prosecute him.

After Krishnamurty complained about the demand for bribe and also the threat posed to him, the then Lokaykukta superintendent of police, Sonia Narang, for further action. The name of Ashwin Rao,son of Justice Rao, had emerged during investigation, and Justice Rao, who has already been made a witness in a case, is being sought to be named as an accused.