Ashwin & Co reason for ACB formation: Lokayukta judge

Bengaluru: Even as political parties and civil society accuse the Congress government of setting up the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for protecting its party leaders, the Lokayukta special court has blamed it on the supposed six ring leaders of the Lokayukta extortion racket.
Justice DT Devendran of the special Lokayukta court said this on April 27 while rejecting the bail applications of Y Ashwin Rao, son of former Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao; Syed Riaz, former Lokayukta PRO; and four others.
“The offence committed by the accused has led to the virtual closure of Lokayukta institution,” the judge said adding that it propmpted the government to bring in an amendment to the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, and the subsequent high drama which saw Justice Rao resigning. “The post is still vacant,” the judge observed.
He said following the offences, the government withdrew the police-station powers of the Lokayukta and formed the ACB. “So, taking into consideration the seriousness of the offences and their effect on society, I am of the opinion that the accused are not entitled to enlarge on bail,” the judge said in his order.
The six accused in the Lokayukta extortion racket have all been behind bars for nine months.