Lokayukta corruption case: SIT analyses 5,000 mobile call records of accused

by news
•
May 9, 2016

Bengaluru: More than 5,000 audio clippings of conversation between the accused in Lokayukta graft case have been analysed by the Special Investigation Team(SIT) to be included in the additional chargesheets.

The SIT officials have reportedly seized several mobile phones of the accused.

“Over 5,000 recorded conversations were found in the seized mobile phones. All the audio files were analysed and we have picked up 60 out of it, which can be a clinching evidence against the accused,” an official told sources.

The investigating officials have been transcribing these audio clippings. “It’s a laborious process and takes a lot of time. Some conversations last more than 30 minutes. The accused have spoken at length about their modus operandi. Each detail has to be recorded. The conversations will be given to the court in print format along with CDs containing the audio files,” the official added.

The official further said, “As per the procedure, we have sent the clippings to the Forensic Science Laboratory for voice tests. The voice testing experts will have to certify that the voice in the audio is of the accused persons. The report submitted by the experts will also be included in the chargesheet.”

The sources from the SIT revealed that while analysing the audio clippings it was found that a Superintendent of Police was in touch with one of the accused M. B. Srinivasa Gowda, a journalist. “On the evening of the day the first complaint was registered, Gowda called up the SP, who is on the verge of retirement now. Gowda tried to know the details of the complaint through the SP. Both spoke badly about a senior police official, who was a part of the investigating team in the Lokayukta. In connection with this, the SP was summoned by the SIT and was questioned. However, he had no involvement in the extortion racket,” the
official said.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had filed its first charge sheet before the Lokayukta court against the six accused in the case : Joint Commissioner and public relations officer of Lokayukta Syed Riaz, the first accused; city-based realtor Ashok Kumar; Ashwin Y. son of Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao; RTI activist V. Bhaskar; Shankare Gowda and Srinivas Gowda, who are working for a Kannada news channel.