Santosh Hegde slams transfer of lokayukta official Gaonkar

Former Karnataka lokayukta justice N Santosh Hegde yesterday slammed the Karnataka government for transferring lokayukta official Jeevan Kumar V Gaonkar, calling it an attempt to ''sabotage'' the probe against former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and his family.

In a reshuffle on Thursday, top brass of the Lokayukta police was transferred with Gaonkar being  posted as ADGP, administration, HN Satyanarayana Rao ADGP, crimes and technical services, Bangalore, replacing him as the new ADGP of lokayukta police and J Arun Chakravarthy, deputy inspector general of police (DIGP), directorate of civil rights and enforcement, Bangalore, being transferred to the post of DIGP, Karnataka lokayukta.

Taking strong exception to the move, Hegde told PTI that the lokayukta police was conducting investigation against ''quite big people, powerful people'' adding that Gaonkar's  conduct seemed  ''positive'' going by newspaper reports and his submissions to  the special Lokayukta court.

The move created a lot of anger in the political administration, Hegde, a former Supreme Court judge who is also a key member of Team Anna, said.

Indirectly pointing to Yeddyurappa, whom he indicted in the illegal mining report, which led to the BJP strongman's exit as chief minister, Hegde said, though some people were finally released from jail on bail the enquiry against them, their family and former colleagues continued.

Pointing to ''sudden change (the transfer) without there being a Lokayukta, without his opinion'', he referred to newspaper reports that the chief secretary had raised objections to Rao's name at some point of time earlier.

He  said it all led to only one conclusion, that the transfer was done for collateral purpose...to sabotage the investigation.

He questioned as to what was the hurry to change the person. He added that an attempt was being made to defeat the investigation that was under way.