Graft at Lokayukta office: Advocates, activists protest

High drama was witnessed in front of Lokayukta SP’s office on Dewans’ road, here, on Wednesday, when a section of activists belonging to Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), H Shivaramegowda faction, resorted to a protest, demanding the resignation of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, following the corruption charges against his son Y Ashwin Rao.

The KRV activists, led by their district unit president Madesh, descended on the footpath near Lokayukta office, when scores of police personnel, led by Inspector Nagesh, took them under preventive custody. A total of 21 activists were arrested and sent to City Armed Reserve (CAR) police grounds, where they were released later.

According to DCP (law and order) H T Shekar, the activists resorted to the stir without obtaining any pre-requisite permission. So, they were taken into preventive custody.
Sources told Deccan Herald, the vedike activists did not heed to police warning against staging the protest. When they went on an offensive, police personnel rounded them and took them to CAR grounds in a maxicab, that was passing on the same stretch.

Meanwhile, hundreds of advocates, under the banner of Mysore Bar Association, took out a rally in protest against the issue. The advocates, led by their president B R Chandramouli and secretary Srikrishna, demanded the resignation of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao and action against his son Ashwin, ‘so called’ agent Krishna Rao and PRO at Lokayukta office Syed Riyaz.

The rally was taken out from the Law Courts complex, through Vani Vilasa Road, RTO Circle, Ramaswamy Circle and JLB Road, before culminating at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

A memorandum was submitted to Additional Deputy Commissioner M S Archana.