Karnataka Assembly to discuss corruption charges against Lokayukta next week

Justice Rao has declined the charges and defended his son

Karnataka’s anti-corruption watchdog Lokayukta is under the scanner, ironically, on charges of corruption. The state Assembly will discuss the issue on Monday, which is seen as the preliminary step to remove Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao from office.

Karnataka Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa said on Friday a special business advisory committee meeting of the Assembly would discuss and recommend an investigation by the Karnataka High Court. Based on the committee’s report, the Assembly would deliberate and take the final decision. The Assembly session is being held in Belagavi currently.

Rao, a former chief justice of the Karnataka High Court, took over as the anti-corruption ombudsman in February 2013. The Congress-led state government, which appointed him, has set up a special investigation team to probe charges of Rao’s son, Ashwin, extorting money from government officials suspected to be corrupt. A police case has been lodged against Ashwin and two others. Rao has refuted the charges and defended his son.

“Propriety demands that he resign,” said Opposition leader Suresh Kumar of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “He should respect the institution. Once its credibility is eroded, it would be difficult to restore it.”

The state’s Lokayukta has been very active in the past decade, in investigating corruption against politicians and bureaucrats.

Former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa of the BJP had to resign in 2011, after the then Lokayukta, Santosh Hegde indicted him and his family members in a report on illegal mining.

“What is the point of having a Lokayukta as an institution if we question its integrity? What is the point of having the institution?” asked Hegde, demanding the abolition of the corruption watchdog.

Civic society leaders and corporate citizens have also demanded Rao’s resignation.

“See the irony. An ombudsman, who is supposed to fight corruption, is accused of corruption,” said V Balakrishnan, a former director of Infosys and a member of the Aam Aadmi Party. “The case should be handed over to the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and a fair and free probe should be done in a time-bound manner.”

Rao was appointed Karnataka Lokayukta after two former chief justices who were considered for this post could not take it up, owing to charges that they bought properties in Bengaluru at below-market prices. The same charges were made against Rao.