Gold Leafing Scam: Experts to Check Quality of Works

MYSURU: As the government failed to act against Palace Board deputy director T S Subrahmanya and eight others even after six months of filing an FIR against the officials in connection with the gold leafing scam, Mysuru Lokayukta police shot off one more letter to the government demanding the transfer of Subrahmanya to ensure an impartial probe.

The Lokayukta police have invited experts from Nagpur to get a final opinion on the gold leafing works. A team of experts will soon arrive to check the quality of works carried out at cost of Rs 3.65 crore.

Sources told Express that Lokayukta police have written one more letter to the Lokayukta ADGP, urging him to request the government to transfer Subrahmanya.

This was in the wake of government inaction on the first letter shot up immediately after the FIR filed against Subrahmanya and eight others on June 9, based on the report submitted by the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC) which found faults in the restoration works.

The other officials named in the FIR are: former Palace Board director P V Avaradi, C N Lakshmisha (AE), V Srinivas (AE), C S Rajashekaregowda (AEE), B R Muralidhara Rao (AE), M K Somashekar (AEE), Parashivamurthy (AEE), Shehzad Khan, proprietor of Pink City International, Mumbai and artist Raghupathi Bhat. In a major setback to the Lokayukta probe, a few days after the FIR was filed, the ‘Measurement Book’ which had the details of the work went missing from the Palace Board office.

Although a complaint was registered at Devaraja police station, the police is yet to file a chargesheet. City Police Commissioner M A Saleem said he will check with H M Kantharaju, inspector of Devaraja Station, on the status of the probe.“Subrahmanya continuing as as deputy director gave scope for many doubts,” a Lokayukta official said. Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi said they will take action after receiving opinion of experts.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com