The Deccan Chronicle  20.09.2010

Sept. 19: The urban development department, in a swift move, revoked the suspension of Ganesh Mandir ward corporator L. Govindaraju on September 16, just three days after he was suspended. Mr Govindaraj was caught red-handed by Lokayukta sleuths while accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a builder in his ward on July 17. According to a government order issued by urban development department under secretary S. Renukaradhya, Mr Govindaraj was suspended on September 13, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Mayor S.K. Nataraj expressed his displeasure over the development. “This confusion should have been avoided. His membership from BBMP should not have been cancelled even before the charges were confirmed and allegations against him proved. After suspension, the government should have stuck to its stand. It demoralises the elected representatives,” said Mr Nataraj.

He also said henceforth Mr Govindaraju could take part in the BBMP council meetings. Congress opposition leader in the BBMP council M. Nagaraj smelt a ‘political game’ in the entire episode.

“Suspension or punishment could be awarded only if the accused is proved guilty. So far, not a single person trapped by the Lokayukta has been punished unless the charges were proved in a court of law. It is sheer political vengeance. A defeated candidate from the BJP in the same ward has played a major role in making the allegations against Govindaraj. The party does not support corruption and Govindaraj’s primary membership from the party has been suspended,” said Mr Nagaraj.

“I condemn the government’s move to suspend Mr Govindaraj when a BJP MLA facing similar charges has been allowed to go scot-free,” Mr Nagaraj said.

The move to withdraw the suspension order came in the wake of a few Congress leaders planning to challenge the case vis-a-vis suspended MLA Sampangi and minister Renukacharya who were also facing criminal charges, sources said.

Govindaraju was found accepting bribe from a builder who had sought the corporator’s help for the construction of a building in violation of BBMP building bye-laws. Udayakumar, a contractor, had lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta police against Govindaraj. The complainant had alleged that the corporator had been demanding a bribe of Rs 8 lakh to allow him to construct an apartment complex in Katriguppe, Banashankari III Stage. After bargaining, the corporator reduced the amount to Rs 5 lakh and took Rs 2 lakh on May 25 as an advance. The Lokayukta police had caught him red-handed while accepting the bribe.