The Lokayukta police on Saturday filed a chargesheet against BJP MLA from Yelahanka, S.R.Vishwanath, for possessing Rs 7.74 crore more than his known sources of income. After the Lokayukta court ordered an inquiry following a private complaint, the Lokayukta police raided the houses of Mr Vishwanath, his friends and relatives in December 2011 and February this year.
“The probe into the disproportionate assets case against the MLA for the period between 1985 and 2011 has revealed that the accused is found to possess assets worth Rs 9.11 crore and has incurred an expenditure of Rs 3.5 crore,” the Lokayukta police stated in a release. They said the earnings of the MLA through known sources is Rs 4.87 crore, but he was found to be in possession of Rs 7.74 crore. The violation is 159.02 per cent, it stated. The Lokayukta police said that the accused has accrued wealth through corrupt means and has committed the offences under Prevention of Corruption Act.
The private complaint filed by V. Shashidhar alleges that Mr Vishwanath earned Rs 17 lakh when he was an employee of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited from 1985-2008, but his present assets were worth over Rs 70 crore. The complainant alleged that the MLA gave a false affidavit before the Election Commission, declaring his assets as Rs 40 lakh, while his actual worth was over Rs 70 crore. “The MLA has imported cars bought in the name of others and his family members operate petrol bunks and own sites under G category at several places in Bengaluru,” the complainant had alleged.
After the chargesheet was filed, Judge N.K. Sudhindra Rao posted the case for orders on issuing summons against Mr Vishwanath to August 31. The Lokayukta police informed the court that they had written to the Speaker seeking sanction.