Bengaluru, Mar 10 (DHNS): The ball is now in Governor Vajubhai Vala’s court with the State government granting sanction to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to prosecute former Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao.

If the Governor gives permission to the SIT to prosecute Justice Rao, then the former Lokayukta would have to face trial in a court of law. Justice Rao resigned in December last following intense pressure from various quarters. The State legislature had also adopted a motion to remove him from the post of Lokayukta. The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) gave its nod for prosecuting Justice Rao for his role in a multi-crore extortion and corruption racket in the institution of the Lokayukta. The DPAR gave its clearance after channelling the file through the office of the chief minister. The file has now been sent to Raj Bhavan. The governor, who as the appointing authority of the Lokayukta, will have the final say in granting or denying permission to prosecute Justice Rao.

The SIT has charged Justice Rao with abetting his son Y Ashwin who is accused of running an extortion and corruption racket in the Lokayukta office. Ashwin is the prime accused in the five first information reports filed by the SIT. The sources said the SIT had sought permission to prosecute Justice Rao under various Sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code, including Section 8 of the PCA (taking gratification, in order, by corrupt or illegal means, to influence public servant), Section 202 of IPC (intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform) and Section 217 of IPC (a public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save a person from punishment or property from forfeiture).