Yelahanka MLA ‘filthy’ rich: Lokayukta chargesheet

Yelahanka MLA SR Vishwanath possesses assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, having bought property worth more than Rs9 crore in the name of his wife and children, besides benami properties, a Lokayukta investigation has found.

Lokayukta officials have filed a chargesheet in this regard in Lokayukta court. The chargesheet states that apart from amassing wealth, the MLA has spent Rs3.5 crore between 1985 and 2011—the period for which his income and expenditure were audited.

The audit revealed that in the period, Vishwanath earned Rs4.8 crore. The value of his property was ascertained at Rs7.7 crore, additional director general of police (Lokayukta), HN Satyanarayana Rao, said. He said the MLA has also availed of a BDA site under G-category quota by providing false information.

Further, he contested zilla panchayat election even though he was employed with a public sector company. Further, the chargesheet states that Vishwanath has an imported car and a petrol pump in the name of his wife.

Investigation into Vishwanath’s assets was ordered on the basis of a complaint filed by one Shashidhar, who had accused the MLA of amassing property disproportionate to his known sources of income.