Lokayukta cops search firm linked to IAS officer's company

The Lokayukta police on Wednesday searched the premises of Gemini Shares and Stocks Pvt Ltd, which has business transactions with a company linked to senior IAS officer Kapil Mohan.

The searches were part of the ongoing investigation into the disproportionate assets case against the bureaucrat.

Sources said the searches were conducted at Cottage 4, Bangalore Palace Compound, Bengaluru-52.

Three companies operate from the same address in which one Naveen Prabhudev Patil is a director.

Gemini Shares had given a loan of Rs 1.25 crore to PSK Finance during 2013-14 and the outstanding loan amount was adjusted by converting it into shares at the rate of Rs 100 per share.

Interestingly, Patil was one of the directors of Gemini Shares till May 2011.

Presently, Kumara Channa Basavanna Gowda Patil and Shreedhar Ganganagoud Patil are the directors of Gemini Shares and Stocks Pvt Ltd.

PSK has also taken deposits from Naveen Prabhudev Patil (Rs one crore) and Usha Naveen Patil (Rs 75 lakh).

Incriminating documents
Sources said certain incriminating documents were seized from the company’s office.
On the other hand, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to the Lokayukta police seeking details about the disproportionate assets case against Kapil Mohan.

The Enforcement Directorate has sought details about the companies linked to the officer. Sources said though the Enforcement Directorate collected the copy of the FIR in certain cases of DA involving public servants, the ED has sought all documents in Mohan’s case, including details about the companies.

A sum of Rs 4.37 crore in cash, gold and diamonds worth crores of rupees and property documents were seized from the 6th floor flat of Maple Block at Golden Grand properties in Yeshwantpur in August.

Child pornography
There has been no progress in the case pertaining to child pornography registered at
the Yeshwantpur police station.

Sources said that a DVD and external hard disk, which were recovered from a flat belonging to firm linked to Kapil Mohan, had not yet been handed over to the Yeshwantpur police as they were with the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for the purpose of getting a mirror image.

“The hard disk and the DVD are digital evidence and have been sent to FSL for making a copy. The Lokayukta police will retain the copy and hand over the original to the Yeshwantpur police,” an official told Deccan Herald.

Kapil Mohan seeks exemption
IAS officer Kapil Mohan has written to the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights seeking exemption from personal appearance.
The Commission had summoned him to appear in person on Wednesday.
The Commission had registered a suo motu case against the officer based on media reports about a case under the IT Act registered with the Yeshwantpur police station for possessing child pornographic material at a flat belonging to a firm linked to the officer.
Though the FIR registered does not name the officer, the Commission had registered the case and issued summons to Mohan under the Commission For Protection for Child Rights Act, 2005, Section 14(1)(a). “Kapil Mohan has written a letter seeking exemption from personal appearance before the Commission and stated that the FIR doesn’t name him. He, however, stated that he would appear for enquiry if any substantial evidence is secured by the police,” an official said.
The chairperson of the Commission Dr Kripa Alva said that Deputy Commissioner of Police North would submit a report once the investigation in the case was taken up after receiving the DVD and the external hard disk.