Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 7: In a shocking incident, Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty was stabbed by a youth here on Wednesday March 7.

Sources said that the incident took place in the Lokayukta office.

It is learnt that the youth came to the office on the pretext of some issue and stabbed Justice Shetty.

Justice Shetty was rushed to hospital and his condition is said to be critical.

The assailant, later identified as Tejas Sharma, entered the Lokayukta chamber armed and accompanied by two women, the police said.

The incident happened around 1.45 pm, closer to lunch hours. The Lokayukta's door assistant heard his screams and rushed inside for his help when the assailant tried to assault him as well, but he luckily escaped unhurt.

A few Lokayukta staff rushed inside and overpowered Sharma, while they shifted Vishwanath Shetty to Mallya Hospital. His condition is said to be critical.

The Lokayukta police and staff later handed over the assailant to the jurisdictional Vidhana Soudha Police. It is alleged that Tejas Sharma had told the security at the entry that he had to lodge a complaint and wrote his name as 'Advocate' in the register. The police have registered a case of attempt to murder and are investigating.

"A person stabbed the Lokayukta in Bengaluru, the accused has been taken into custody," said home minister Ramalinga Reddy.

"According to information I have, someone claiming to be an advocate had gone to the office and stabbed him," he said.

Reports said that the attacker, a bus conductor, allegedly was in a crowd of complainants who had come to meet the Lokayukta in his office in the ground floor of the MS Building.

However, the home minister said the attacker was a contractor from Tumakuru. "He complained to the Lokayukta about some tenders. He assaulted the judge and he was alone. The judge is out of danger now," said Ramalinga Reddy.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah visited Justice Shetty at the hospital. He later told reporters, "It seemed like it was an attempt to murder the Lokayukta. He had a big weapon in his hand. We are checking if there was a security lapse. Everything about his background will be investigated."

With Agency Inputs