Lokayukta corruption row: Oppn demands ombudsman's removal

Troubles mounted for Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao as Opposition parties today initiated the process for moving a motion in the Assembly to remove the ombudsman who is immersed in row over an alleged bribery scandal involving his son.
Escalating their campaign, BJP and JDS today submitted a petition to Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa for moving a motion to remove Rao, whose son has been accused of being part of an alleged extortion racket along with some Lokayukta officials and agents.
Acting in concert, the two parties have already submitted a similar petition to the Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankara Murthy, seeking a motion in the Opposition-dominated upper house to vote out Rao.

"In a democracy, controlling corruption in public administration is an important issue; allegations of direct involvement of Lokayukta and his family in corruption is an insult to democracy," the petition signed by 57 MLAs said.
Alleging that Lokayukta had not taken steps to stop graft, it said his asking for a probe by an investigation agency suggested by him "is really unfortunate and this reflects 'incompetency' and 'misbehaviour on the part of the Lokayukta."
As requested by the Lokayukta, the State government has constituted a Special Investigation team (SIT) with ADGP Kamal Panth as its head.

The letter said, "we the undersigned members request you (Speaker) to give permission to move a motion to initiate the process for removal of Lokayukta from his post."

BJP leader Jagadish Shettar said the government had not responded to their demand for a CBI probe and the Lokayukta was also refusing to step down. "If he (Rao) had any morality left in him, he should have quit. The public trust in the institution is eroding," he said.
The Opposition is seeking the recourse under Section 6 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, relating to the process for removal of a Lokayukta or Upalokayukta for "proved misbehaviour or incompetency.