SIT gets 10 days to question Ashwin

A special Lokayukta court in Bengaluru on Tuesday remanded Yerabeti Ashwin, son of Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, to 10 days in police custody .
Ashwin, accused of running an extortion racket from the precincts of the Lokaykuta, will remain in the custody of the Spec i a l Investiga tion Team (SIT) till August 6.
Unlike Monday , when emotionally charged scenes prevailed when Lokayukta PRO Syed Riyaz was produced in court, proceedings bordered on the quiet on Tuesday .
After waiting in the corridors for some time, Ashwin was led into the court hall by chief investigating officer DCP Labhu Ram at 2.05pm.Hands behind his back, he stood in the middle of the court, facing the judge, throughout the one-and-a-half hour proceedings.
Ashwin told special judge VG Bopaiah that he was picked up from his Rainbow Apartments residence in Kukatpally, Hyderabad, on Monday. The team led by officer Balaraju, along with his team, came to his house around 8.30am for the first time, and served notice around 1pm.
The news of the arrest was communicated to his maternal cousin Venkateshwara Rao, before leaving for Bengaluru.
Around 11pm, Ashwin reached Bengaluru and was taken to the SIT office. Post midnight, he was taken to Bowring Hospital, where a medical test was conducted.
SIT officers said Ashwin was arrested and produced in court in connection with a case filed by PWD engineer Channabasappa on Monday . Channabasappa, who was raided by the Lokayukta, said Ashwin and his associates approached him and demanded Rs 20 lakh to be let off in the case.
Ashwin's counsel argued that although the complaint by Channabasappa was registered only at 10.25pm on Monday , police had landed at Ashwin's house at 8.30am. However, the prosecution argued that Ashwin was wanted in other cases and they had learnt about the new case while on their way to arrest him. The investigation officer used his discretion to arrest him in the latest case.
The first FIR naming Ashwin as accused was registered on July 1, following a complaint by a Bengaluru Urban zilla panchayat executive engineer, that the Lokayukta's son had threatened him with a raid if he did not pay up Rs 1 crore.
Labhu Ram requested court custody for 14 days, claiming they had to visit various states during the investigation. The judge granted 10 days custody .
Guv rejects Manjunath's name?
Governor Vajubhai R Vala has reportedly rejected the name of retired high court judge Justice KL Manjunath for the Upa Lokayukta's post. The post has been vacant after Justice SB Majage demitted office on July 17, 2015, on completing his fiveyear term. The CM's office last week had sent an official communication to Vala recommending Justice Manjunath for the post. Sources said the governor has now asked the CM to recommend another name. Social activist SR Hiremath told reporters in Hubballi on Tuesday that he had petitioned the governor not to approve the name.