Karnataka: Congress brings motion to impeach Upa Lokayukta

The impeachment motion against Adi was moved by 76 legislators after CM Siddaramaiah approved the move and authorised party chief whip P M Ashok to collect signatures. The MLAs are accusing the Upa Lokayukta of misconduct in closing a corruption case against a woman medical officer.

The officer Sheela Patil, a relative of former BJP CM Jagadish Shettar, was accused of impropriety in purchase of drugs. It is alleged that Adi, who was appointed by Shettar, usurped the powers of a second Upa Lokayukta and closed the case. Second Upa Lokayukta Justice S B Majage had made the accusation against Adi two months ago, on the day of his retirement.

Adi, who has been at the forefront of enabling an investigation into corruption in the Lokayukta office carried out by Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao’s son Ashwin Rao and his aides, has said he has not committed any impropriety. He has claimed that files pertaining to the medical officer came before him through a clerical error and that the orders in the case were based on findings by an investigating officer who had reported that no corruption was involved in drug sales and purchases. Adi has said he was targeted because he ordered an investigation into the extortion racket in the Lokayukta office, which has led to Ashwin’s arrest.

Both the Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta stand “precluded’’ from discharging duties as per the new Karnataka Lokayukta (Amendment) Act, 2015.

The Congress move to dislodge Adi soon after BJP and JDS moved to dislodge Justice Rao is being seen as an effort to defang the Lokayukta. While the move to dislodge the Lokayukta has received support, the attempt to impeach Adi had invited opposition. “The charges against the Upa Lokayukta are not clear. The government is trying to shut down the institution,” BJP’s Jagadish Shettar, who is leader of the opposition in Assembly, said.

Eminent lawyers like former advocate generals B V Acharya and Uday Holla and civil society members have also written to the Speaker to protest the move.

SC junks plea against Lokayukta

The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a petition seeking removal of former Karnataka Chief Justice Bhaskar Rao from the post of Lokayukta. A bench led by Chief Justice of India H L Dattu said the Assembly is debating the issue and it is not necessary for the Supreme Court to interfere at this stage. Impeachment proceedings against Rao have already been set in motion in the state. Rao finds himself in the dock after it was alleged that his son was using the office of the Lokayukta to run an extortion racket.