B D Narayankar
Press Trust of India
Bangalore, Nov 13: Karnataka Chief Minister D V
Sadananda Gowda today said appropriate action would be taken
against those who had threatened Lokayukta police official
Jeevan Kumar V Gaonkar after police submits its probe report.
"Gaonkar has written a letter to the Chief Secretary
explaining his embarrassment to continue his duty as he had
been threatened by politicians connected with some sensitive
case. But he has not filed any complaint against anybody. So,
I am getting it investigated and will look at it after getting
a report from the police," Gowda told reporters here.
The Chief Minister's statement comes a day after JDS
chief Deve Gowda admitted speaking to Gaonkar over phone but
rejected charges that he held out a threat in connection with
the ongoing probe in a wealth case against his eldest son, H D
Balakrishna Gowda.
"Certain words used by Gowda during the talk were
unpalatable" and Lokayukta Police thought it fit to bring the
development to government's notice, Lokayukta police sources
had said on condition of anonymity.
Lokayukta police is investigating a disproportionate
assets case against Balakrishna, who opted for voluntary
retirement from government service.
Giving clarification on Gaonkar's transfer, the Chief
Minister said the officer was transferred not on former Chief
Minister B S Yeddyurappa's behest or to sabotage the probe
against him.
"We have transferred Gaonkar after taking cognisance of
his letter written to the Chief Secretary S V Ranganath. There
is no truth in shifting him to derail investigation against
Yeddyurappa," he said.
Government had on November 10 transferred Gaonkar, who was
serving as Additional Director General of Police, Karnataka
Lokayukta, and brought Satyanarayana Rao H N, Additional DGP,
Crimes & Technical Services, Bangalore, in his place.
Former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde had
slammed the government for transferring Gaonkar, alleging that
it was an attempt to "sabotage" the probe against Yeddyurappa
and his family.
The Chief Minister said the recent police transfers were
in accordance with the Supreme Court order and based on
availability of vacancies and promotional aspects.
"We also transferred officials whose names have appeared
in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining submitted by former
Lokayukta Santosh Hegde," he added.
Sadananda Gowda said he has written to Governor H R
Bhardwaj furnishing details about the norms to be followed to
appoint new Lokayukta. "I will not say till I get a reply from
the Governor," he said when asked if he had sought appointment
of former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S G Bannurmath as
new Lokayukta.
Replying to a question, Gowda said Yeddyurappa would
campaign for November 30 Bellary Rural Bypoll from November
18. "Yeddyurappa will accompany me and would stay in Bellary
for a week," he said.
Rumours were rife that Yeddyurappa would not campaign
after he was found absent when BJP candidate Gadilingappa
filed his nomination papers last week.
Yeddyurappa told reporters at Hubli today that he
was preoccupied and could not be present. He had also asserted
that he would campaign for Gadilingappa.
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