Bengaluru :Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao’s son was today arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with an alleged extortion racket in the anti-graft obudsman’ office.
The arrest of Ashwin Rao was made in Hyderabad, as the SIT, formed to probe the alleged racket that has also led to clamour for the resignation of Bhaskar Rao, intensified the investigation.
“Yes, we have arrested Ashwin Rao, son of Justice Bhaskar Rao for his alleged involvement in bribery scandal,” SIT chief Kamal Pant told PTI here, adding that the arrest was made in Hyderabad.
Ashwin’s arrest comes a day after Karnataka Lokayukta Joint Commissioner (PRO) Syed Riaz was taken into custody. Six persons have been arrested in the alleged bribery scandal so far.
Ashwin was arrested based on an FIR filed against him after the bribery scandal broke out with charge that an executive engineer was asked to pay Rs 1 crore to avoid a raid.
The SIT swung into action to arrest Ashwin after he was found not cooperating with SIT officials for interrogation.
“We had issued a notice to Rao for his deposition before the officials for interrogation, but he did not turn up,” an SIT official said.
PTI