ED attaches assets worth Rs 5.5 crore of Karnataka ex-Lokayukta’s son

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has attached properties worth Rs 5.5 crore belonging to son of the former Karnataka Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao.
The attachment follows an investigation carried out by ED officials on charges of Y Ashwin, Bhaskar Rao’s son, and his associates “indulging in extortion, blackmailing various government officials in Karnataka on the pretext of helping them with regard to the investigation carried out against them by Karnataka Lokayukta.”
The case was probed under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act by the Bangalore unit of the ED on “finding a prima-facie case of money laundering.” An FIR and chargesheet was earlier filed by the SIT of the Lokayukta, Karnataka.
“Investigations carried out by this directorate revealed that Y Ashwin misused the official position of his father, Y Bhaskar Rao, the then Lokayukta, Karnataka, in conspiracy with other accused V Bhaskar, Ashok Kumar, Syed Riyaztulla.” The accused extorted money from various public servants and projected and layered the said amounts as untainted money, a press note from the Enforcement Directorate said.
The ED’s probe revealed “flow of funds to the tune of Rs 5.92 crore to the bank accounts of Y Ashwin during the relevant period.”
The investigation also revealed that the proceeds of crime were utilised by Ashwin for purchase of various movable and immovable properties. The Enforcement Directorate identified these properties worth Rs 5.5 crore and the same have been provisionally attached, it said.
ED’s probe revealed that Y Ashwin misused the official position of his father to extort money from public servants.