After Several Months, Adamant Karnataka Lokayukta Steps Down
He resigned eight months after facing corruption charges.
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Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao, who has been facing corruption charges along with his son Ashwin Rao, resigned from the post on Tuesday.
He submitted his resignation letter to Karnataka governor Vajubhai R Vala on Monday.
Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa accepted the petition by BJP and JD(S) for the removal of Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao on November 23.
Since the corruption scandal came to light in July 2015, Bhaskar Rao has been on an extended leave. On October 21, he extended his leave for the fourth time, but refused to step down despite numerous public campaigns. The Lokayukta, at any time, can avail 70 days leave with full allowance and 90 days with half allowance, in a year.
The case against Ashwin Rao was filed in May 2015 by a government executive engineer, MN Krishnamurthy, who alleged that Rao had demanded Rs 1 crore to stop the initiation of corruption proceedings against him. An audio clip of a call made by Justice Bhaskar Rao revealed that he too had been involved in the scandal.
Upalokayukta Justice Subhash Adi has been on leave since November 30 after the Congress petitioned for his removal on the grounds of misconduct in closing a corruption case against a woman medical officer without due enquiry.
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