Lok Ayukta top cop shifted to save Yeddyurapa: N Santosh hegde

Taking serious exception to the sudden transfer of Lok Ayukta  ADGP Jeevan Kumar B Gaonkar, former Lok Ayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde termed it a “deliberate act” to derail the probe into corruption cases against former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and several of his former colleagues. The state government, on Friday, transferred Gaonkar and brought Satyanarayana Rao HN in his place.

Hegde pointed out that the Lokayukta police have been investigating several cases involving “quite big people, powerful people” and said the conduct of Gaonkar “looked positive”.
Without naming Yeddyurappa, who he indicted in his final mining report that led to the BJP strongman’s exit as chief minister, Hegde said: “Some people ultimately got bail and they came out but enquiry against them, their family and former colleagues is continuing”.

He pointed to “sudden change (the transfer) without there being a Lokayukta, without his opinion”, and also referred to newspaper reports that the chief secretary had objected to Rao’s name at some point of time earlier. “All this leads to one and only conclusion: this (the transfer) was done for collateral purpose... to sabotage the investigation”, Hegde said. “What’s the mortal hurry to change this person?”

“An attempt is being made definitely... objective is to defeat the investigation that’s being carried out”, he said.