Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Feb 12: Arun Prakash D’Souza, engineer in the PWD department who was accused in a disproportionate assets case was acquitted by the court.

The Lokayukta police had raided the residence of Arun in Bantwal on December 19, 2014, when he was serving as an assistant junior in Bantwal PWD. The Lokayukta sleuths had filed a chargesheet under the anti-corruption act.

Lawyer Dinesh Hegde Ulepadi argued for Arun. In his argument for the accused, Lawyer Dinesh said, “Lokayukta police have filed a false complaint without following any scientific method. With regards to golden ornaments seized during the raid, they have calculated the value prevailing during the time of seizure than at the time of buying. Wife of the accused is from a rich family and she got assets and golden ornaments from her family. In addition, cash that was confiscated during the raid included money that was obtained from the sale of property.

“All these are considered as the property and gain of the accused. There are no records of the accused buying any property in his name. He has not bought any golden ornaments during his service period. In the golden ornaments that are confiscated, some belong to his mother, who died in 2008.

“In addition, the accused has joint rights with his two brothers and one sister. Rest of the gold and deposits are in the name of his wife. Lokayukta police did not consider the assets and cash separately in the names of the accused and his wife and falsely recorded everything in the name of the accused.”

The third additional and district sessions court, which upheld the argument presented by the lawyer for accused Arun Prakash D’Souza acquitted him on February 10. The court also directed the Lokayukta to return all the valuables to accused Arun.