The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe allegations of corruption in the Lokayukta office, on Wednesday nabbed V. Bhaskar, the RTI activist and the sixth accused in the racket. Bhaskar was on the run.
The team of officials tracking V. Bhaskar managed to pick him up from a hideout in Bengaluru, Additional Director General of Police, Kamal Pant told The Hindu . Mr. Pant is heading the SIT probe in the case.
The SIT officials have so far arrested five accused including Public Relations Officer Syed Riyaz, Ashwin Rao, son of Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao and three of his associates including a realtor and a journalist. They six accused have been running the racket and extorting Government officials posing as Lokayukta sleuths.
A senior police officer said that V. Bhaskar's arrest will give more evidence and help SIT in the case as he is considered to be Ashwin Rao's right-hand man and carried out all dealings on his behalf.
Meanwhile, Lokayukta Joint Commissioner (PRO), Syed Riyaz who was produced before the Magistrate court on Wednesday accused the SIT officials of ill-treatment and requested for bail.
Riyaz's advocate claimed that Riyaz is innocent in the case and all allegations against him are false. The SIT has no proof against him.
Denying the allegations, SIT officials argued that they have enough evidence against Riyaz and that he is the king-pin in the alleged scam. SIT said that Riyaz had already destroyed enough evidence as the PRO and if given bail, there are chances of destruction of other evidences. SIT has sought the court to not to grant him bail.
