Following a court order, the Lokayukta police on Saturday registered an FIR against Lokayukta SP (City) P.K. Shivashankar and Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner M.K. Aiyappa.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H.N. Sathyanarayana Rao’s office registered the FIR and directed Ramanagar superintendent of police U.P. Shivarama Reddy to investigate a complaint that Mr Shivashankar breached confidentiality of his office and tipped off Mr Aiyappa about a complaint against him.
A case worker in the DC’s office, Rajeshwari, who allegedly sought bribes on behalf of Mr Aiyappa, and a petitioner in the revision petition Gayathri are the co-accused. The complainant, R. Srinivasa Murthy, was a respondent in a review petition in a revenue dispute before Mr Aiyappa.
Mr Murthy stated that while there were around 4,000 similar disputes pending, the commissioner abnormally posted the case for orders in just 3-4 hearings without providing any opportunity for argument.
On September 24, Rajeshwari, who sat outside the deputy commissioner’s chamber, demanded a bribe for a favourable order. She enquired about the case and told the complainant, which has been both video and audio recorded, that the deputy commissioner would receive a “mamool” of Rs 3 lakh per acre. She also scribbled “Rs 3 lakh per acre” and said it is on the instructions of the DC.
With the recorded video and audio evidence, the complainant rushed to Mr Ravishankar’s office. But he was told that the SP had gone to meet the higher-ups. Mr Murthy returned to the SP’s office later, but an inspector asked him to get the recordings of the DC asking for money.
The complainant went to the DC’s office in 40 minutes, from MS Building to the DC’s office. To the complainant’s surprise, the deputy commissioner not only let him into his chamber, but was also ready with the file. The DC allegedly threatened the complainant with dire consequences if he visited the Lokayukta office again.