Bengaluru, Jul 29 (DHNS): The Lokayukta Special Court on Tuesday granted custody for nine days of Ashwin Yerabati, son of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing cases of corruption within the anti-graft body.

Chief Investigating Officer Labhu Ram produced Ashwin before the court seeking his custody for 14 days. Ashwin told the court he was taken into custody from number 609, “C” block Rainbow Apartments, Kukatpally, Hyderabad.

Ashwin's counsel Sandeep Patil said the second FIR no 58/2015 against him was registered at 10:25 am on Monday, while the police reached the apartment in Hyderabad at 8 am. After questioning him for some time, the police took Ashwin to Kukatpally police station to intimate the local police and headed for Bengaluru.

“We came by road and reached Bengaluru at around 11 pm. At around 2:25 am, the SIT intimated me about my arrest. Later, I was taken to Bowring Hospital and underwent a medical examination,” Ashwin told the court.

Patil objected to the police custody, stating that the complaint in the second FIR said demand for money was not made in Hyderabad.

An executive engineer in the Upper Tunga project in Haveri, Channabasappa, had stated in the complaint that though he had met Ashwin in Hyderabad, the demand for money was placed by Ashwin’s aides Ashok Kumar and Bhaskar through one Shivayogi Hiremath.

SPP appointed

Also on Tuesday, senior counsel K Janardan submitted before the court that he had been appointed the special public prosecutor in the case.

He also argued that Ashwin’s custodial interrogation was necessary to ascertain more information about the extortion racket.

“The SIT had gone to Ashwin’s house to enquire about certain aspects and during the enquiry the allegation in the second complaint came up and he was taken into custody in that case. It is the discretion of the investigating officer to cause arrest when there are multiple cases,” said Janardan.

Justice Rao goes on leave til Aug 15

Lokayukta justice Y Bhaskar Rao has sent a note to the office of the registrar that he will be on leave till August 15. Since Justice is not coming to the office, the decision on the issuing show-cause notice to Joint Commissioner (PRO) Syed Riyaz on his leave application could not be taken, an official said.