BENGALURU: The Lokayukta Special Court on Saturday granted bail to former Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao.
While allowing the bail plea of Justice Rao, Special Judge D T Devendran imposed certain conditions on the accused.
“Justice Rao should execute a bond of `1 lakh and provide a personal surety. The accused should not influence the witnesses and destroy evidence,” the judge said.
Justice Rao was in the know of the extortion racket run from his office by his son Y Ashwin but did nothing to stop it, according to the charge sheet filed by the Special Investigation Team.
Justice Rao was not present at the court citing poor health.
The SIT probing the racket made serious criminal charges against Rao (78), who had resigned from the post of Lokayukta after his son’s arrest.
In its objection to the bail plea, the SIT contended that Rao defeated the purpose of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act and his act was a big blow to the anti-corruption movement in the state. However, Rao denied the allegations in his bail plea.
Rao is the first Lokayukta to face criminal charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He is arraigned as the seventh accused in the charge sheet, after prima facie evidence showed his involvement in the scam.
He was the former chief justice of Karnataka High Court.