Santosh Hegde terms it serious lapse of security.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Santosh Hegde on Wednesday called the attack on Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty as "serious lapse of security" and said the institution had written 20 letters, demanding more security, to the government, which were not acknowledged.
Yesterday, the state's Lokayukta was stabbed inside his office premises in Bengaluru by an alleged contractor from Tumakuru over complaints regarding some tenders. "20 letters were written by Lokayukta institution which weren't acknowledged. I hope the government wakes up soon," said Justice Santosh Hegde.The judge is out of danger now and undergoing treatment at the Mallaya Hospital. Anguished by the incident, Justice Hegde also questioned the government's attitude towards the institution of Lokayukta.
"I am more concerned about the attitude of the government towards Lokayukta institution. Metal detectors were not working since many years," Justice Hegde further said. The accused was soon arrested after the attack. Karnataka Lokayukta P Vishwanatha Shetty was stabbed three-four times and left profusely bleeding on Wednesday by a man who went to his office with a complaint only to be told that the case had been shut. Shetty, in 70s, was rushed to a nearby hospital and was said to be out of danger. The Lokayukta collapsed after Tejaraj Sharma attacked him in his chamber, the police said. Shetty suffered serious injuries on his abdomen. The attacker, a contractor, has been arrested.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and expressed concern over the attack. The BJP slammed the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka for the attack. The BJP questioned the law and order in the state that goes to the polls later this year. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “It is a serious issue of law and order.” His ministerial colleague Ananth Kumar said Siddaramaiah and the Congress are fully responsible for the attack and they must leave Karnataka. Sharma had filed a complaint with the Lokayukta about not getting a tender for a work he had applied for. He was told by the Lokayukta office that the case was shut after investigation.
Siddaramaiah said he spoke to doctors regarding the Lokayukta’s treatment. “Doctors who are treating him have said prima facie he is out of danger,” he said. ”I was shown the weapon. The knife is big. It looks like the attacker attempted to kill him,” he said. “I have instructed the DGP to investigate in detail... about the attacker’s background and other things”, he said. Shetty took over as the state Lokayukta in January 2017, succeeding Y Bhaskar Rao, a former high court chief justice.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru police said the accused stabbed the Lokayukta as his complaint regarding some furniture contracts were not being addressed.Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar said that the accused had complained against some public servants in connection with supply of furniture. “The accused has been taken into police custody and is being interrogated. It has been found that the accused had complained against 15-17 public servants in connection with supply of furniture. His allegations were not proved,” Kumar said. He also said that further inquiry in the matter is going on. “He took this step because of the reason that he was complaining against these contractors and still not getting the tenders,” he added.
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 "Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty being shifted to a hospital after he was stabbed by a complainant in his office i")
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