Rao has been stalling calls for stepping down following the allegations. The Speaker Kagodu Thimappa is said to be considering it before referring the issue to the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice to take the process forward.
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Facing the ignominy of being removed, Y Bhaskar Rao has finally resigned as the Karnataka Lokayukta, after dragging his feet for months.
Justice Rao resigned on Monday, Raj Bhavan sources said today adding that the governor has accepted his resignation “with immediate effect”.
The police allege that the accused brazenly operated out of the office and official residence of the Lokayukta, raising suspicions that Rao could not have been totally unaware of their activities.
Rao is on a long leave since July last after his son Ashwin Rao was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the case.
Justice Rao found himself in the dock after allegations of his son’s involvement in an extortion racket within the Lokayukta office were brought to light.
According to the procedure of appointment of Lokayukta as mentioned in Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984 the Lokayukta shall be a person who has held the office of Judge of the Supreme Court or that of the Chief Justice of a High Court.
In another development, a motion seeking removal of Upa Lokayukta Subhash Adi, moved by the Congress but not supported by BJP and JDS, is also before the Assembly.
Under the amended law, which was passed in July, the removal of the Lokayukta can be initiated if one-third of the legislators in either house sign a motion and present it to the head of the house. “His resignation was expected”, said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
After receiving the petition, the Speaker had said he would write to the Chief Justice of Karnataka asking him to constitute a committee of retired judges for the inquiry.
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Also, complaints against ministers DK Shivakumar, Mahadevappa, KJ George, Mahadeva Prasad and opposition leaders BS Yeddyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy, among others, are pending without even having been looked into.
