The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has made considerable headway in the Lokayukta corruption case.
Investigations have revealed that multiple gangs of extortionists operated in the Lokayukta and Syed Riyaz, Joint Commissioner (Lokayukta) and Public Relations Officer, coordinated their operations.
The SIT officials said Riyaz’s arrest will help ascertain the role of the main accused, Ashwin Y. Sources said that Riyaz was in constant touch with two gangs that called and fleeced government officials. Evidence has also shown that the keys to the second floor conference room, where complainant M.N. Krishnamurthy was allegedly threatened, was in his custody.
Ashok Kumar, who has already been arrested, reportedly called the complainant and told him that the Joint Commissioner (Lokayukta) wanted to meet him. Presently, Riyaz is the only officer of that rank in the organisation.
Interrogation of the arrested — Ashok Kumar, Srinivas Gowda and Shankare Gowda — has also found their close links and Riyaz’s involvement, sources said.
Riyaz, who had applied for leave from July 1 to 17 to go on Umrah, had not reported for duty, which led to suspicion that he had fled the country.
Meanwhile, the SIT has launched a manhunt for Sadiq, Riyaz’s brother-in-law, who was also allegedly involved in the ring as a tout. Teams have fanned out to Hassan and Shivamogga on his trail.
The SIT sources said there were multiple teams of extortionists independent of each other operating in the Lokayukta. The three arrested, who were involved in making calls and threatening Mr. Krishnamurthy, form one team. Their modus operandi was to threaten and extort money after securing information about the officials through RTI Act.
Sources said that there was another team of around four touts, including V. Bhaskar, Hotte Krishna and others, who also targeted officials in a similar way. However, it was unlikely that this gang was involved with the complainant.
