To resign or not is left to Lokayukta, says Karnataka CM

Says it is left to the ombudsman to decide on the issue

As the clamour for resignation of Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao over an alleged bribery scandal grew, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said it was left to the ombudsman to decide on the issue. “To resign or not to resign is left to him. Government cannot do anything within the purview of the law on the issue,” he told reporters in Ballari, when questioned about the demand for the exit of Rao.

Siddaramaiah dismissed allegations that the government was protecting Rao, who is in the eye of a storm over the alleged extortion racket to which his son has been linked. Meanwhile, various organisations including the local lawyers association and Aam Aadmi party workers today staged protests in various parts of Bengaluru demanding resignation of Rao. Escalating the campaign, AAP members urged the Lokayukta to immediately tender his resignation in the interest of fairness, justice, and public confidence and perception.

Opposition parties have been pressing for a CBI probe into the scandal and initiated the process to move a motion in the legislature for the removal of Rao. The government has ordered setting up of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged corruption by some Lokayukta officials and Rao’s son.

The institution was rocked by the alleged scandal recently after its Superintendent of Police Sonia Narang wrote a letter to its Registrar, about the complaint she received from a person, who alleged that someone from the Lokayukta office demanded ~1 crore in bribe to avoid a raid. However, Rao has brushed aside the charges against his son and said he would quit only if the allegations are proved.