Tainted Bangalore corporator issues open threat to complainant

The Lokayukta complainant who put Sudhamanagar’s lady corporator, Avvai, in the dock over corruption charges, is already at a risk of losing his life. Avvai while admitting in a statement that she had indeed taken Rs15,000 as bribe from an eatery owner, Channegowda, but that it was to grant his establishment a licence, openly threatened him saying that she would “take care of him” once she was out of jail.

Shockingly, the threat was issued to Channegowda, the complainant, right in front of the Lokayukta police in the Lokayukta office. Soon after the police brought her to Lokayukta office, Avvai reportedly warned Channegowda that she would see his end once she came out of jail.

A senior official, requesting anonymity, told DNA, “Avvai’s supporters who had come to the Lokayukta office were also scaring Channegowda, making threatening gestures at him indicating that they were serious about Avvai’s threat.”

Lokayukta superintendent of police (SP), UP Shivaram Reddy, too, confirmed Avvai’s threat to Channegowda. “We have written a letter to the police commissioner and have spoken to him about providing security to him. I have also spoken to the the DCP, ACP and police inspector concerned.”

Deputy commissioner of police (West), DC Rajappa, too confirmed receiving the letter from the Lokayukta police. “We have taken initiatives to provide security to him. Policemen will be deployed at two points close to his eatery and his residence.”

Avvai was caught red-handed while taking `15,000 as bribe in her office in Kalasipalya on Tuesday afternoon. Channegowda, the owner of an eatery, had complained to the Lokayukta police.
Avvai’s open threat spoke volumes about how easily aggrieved citizens who complain to the Lokayukta are at a risk of losing their lives.

However, taking cognisance of the magnitude of the threat, especially close on the heels of the recent murder of RTI activist Lingaraju, who had complained to Lokayukta about illegal assets of corporator Gowramma’s husband, Govindaraju, the Lokayukta police immediately informed the law and order police to provide security to Channegowda.

They also advised Channegowda and his family members not to walk out on the streets alone in any circumstances. The police have also advised him not to disclose his identity in front of the TV media and cautioned him against revealing his contact numbers to anyone.

Lokayukta police on Tuesday evening produced Avvai before the magistrate. She requested bail on health grounds. But the magistrate remanded her to judicial custody and she was later taken to Parappana Agrahara Central Jail by the Lokayukta police. The officials told DNA that Avvai had no convincing replies to several of their queries during interrogation.

Meanwhile, Channegowda and his family have expressed safety concerns as they live near Kalasipalya where Avvai’s supporters are engaged in anti-social activities. The scared family has planned to leave Bangalore after a few days.