Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) in its objection filed before the High Court to former Lokayukta Justice Rao’s petition challenging the chargesheet filed against him has said that they have collected oral and documentary evidence in their investigation which would prove that Rao was hand-in-glove with his son Ashwin and his associates to abuse the official position of the Lokayukta, in order to extort money from public servants holding key positions in the government.

The counsel for SIT submitted that there are several instances wherein commissioners of public authorities like BBMP were called to the residence of Rao. “Information gathered through RTI was used to terrorise officials by other accused in the case. The institution, instead of curbing corruption, was allowed to be converted into an office of corruption,” the counsel argued.

The SIT also justified the report submitted to State Government by them and the sanction given by governor to prosecute Justice Rao.

Justice Anand Byrareddy adjourned the hearing to Thursday.

Rao, named as the seventh accused, has been charged with abetting illegal gratification to influence a public servant, concealing evidence and being part of a criminal conspiracy to cover up and protect the offenders. His son Ashwin is the prime accused in the alleged extortion racket that was being run in the Lokayukta office, with subsequent public and opposition outcry causing the exit of Rao as the head of the anti-graft institution.

The alleged scam came to light after the then Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Sonia Narang wrote a letter to Lokayukta Registrar about the complaint she received from an Executive Engineer, who alleged that someone from the Lokayukta office demanded Rs one crore in bribe to avoid a raid.