Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)
Bengaluru, Dec 6 : Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa on Saturday said that he was not convinced with evidences furnished with the petition seeking the removal of Upalokayukta Justice Subhash Adi.
“The available evidences are not convincing and are not enough to prove the charges of favouritism against Justice Adi. There is a need for more evidences,” Kagodu said while speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with Special Investigation Team (SIT) chief ADGP Kamal Pant. Pant is probing the charges of corruption in the Karnataka Lokayukta.
The Legislative Assembly recently admitted two separate motions seeking the removal of Lokayukta justice Y Bhaskar Rao and justice Adi. While the motion seeking the removal of Justice Rao was moved by the opposition BJP and JD(S), Congress moved the motion against Upalokayukta Justice Subhash Adi.
“Even though the charges against Justice Adi appear true prima facie, the evidences furnished are not enough to prove them. We should be careful before forwarding the petitions to the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice. We have to substantiate all the charges. I am conducting an exhaustive verification of all the documents. I do not want to take any hasty decision,” Kagodu added.
When asked whether he will drop the petition, if he fails to gather sufficient evidences, the Speaker said he is holding meetings with the officials concerned for collecting all information and appropriate decision will be taken based on the evidences.
The Congress, in its petition charged Justice Adi with overstepping his jurisdiction and closing a case involving a relative of BJP leader Jagadish Shettar. The corruption case was related to government medical officer Dr Sheela Patil who is said to be a relative of Shettar.
The BJP had refuted the charges against Upalokayukta and accused the government of conspiring to close down the Lokayukta institution.
On the petition seeking the removal of Lokayukta Justice Rao, Kagodu said that he has been verifying both the petitions and he would take one more week to write to the Chief Justice urging him to conduct a probe.
The Speaker refused to divulge any information on his meeting with the SIT chief.