Lokayukta extortion: Arrested Bengaluru cop had 13 crypto wallets in his name
Bengaluru: The probe into the alleged extortion calls made in the name of Karnataka Lokayukta head honchos has taken an interesting turn with the ombudsman claiming that police constable Ningappa G alias Ningappa Savant, who is already under arrest in the case, had reportedly routed the money collected from corrupt govt officials into 13 crypto currency wallets in his name and those of his relatives.
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Lokayukta police on Monday produced Ningappa before a special court, which remanded him in 14-day judicial custody.
However, there was some relief for Ningappa, with Karnataka high court on Tuesday granting interim stay on the probe against him. Justice S R Krishna Kumar passed the order on Ningappa's petition, seeking quashing of the proceedings initiated against him by Lokayukta police.
An IPS officer, who had served in the ombudsman, reportedly guided and shielded Ningappa as he went about blackmailing and extorting govt officers.
According to a Lokayukta press release, Ningappa from Hosadurga, in Chitradurga district, confessed to extorting money from many excise officials over the last six months. "We have frozen these [crypto] wallets," said the press note.
It further stated: "We are investigating the involvement of other officials in the racket, and checking phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and other communications made with the prime suspect Ningappa."
On Monday and Tuesday, Lokayukta police visited the Koramangala house of an IPS officer who was recently transferred out of Lokayukta.
"The flat, which is in the police quarters, was locked. So, a notice was put up, directing him to appear before the investigating officials," a senior police officer said.
While granting an interim stay on the probe against Ningappa, Justice S R Krishna Kumar also adjourned the hearing to Wednesday on a petition filed by Chandrakala, wife of Ningappa, who claimed that their house was searched at 9 pm on May 31 by Lokayukta police, and her husband was arrested at 9.30 pm in Hosadurga. Thereafter, his whereabouts were not known for two days, until he was produced in court on June 2.
According to her, contrary to the truth, his remand memo said he was arrested at 6.10 pm on June 2 near Maruthi Ground at Rajajinagar in Bengaluru, and that he was brought to the Lokayukta office at 6.30 pm.
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