Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 19: The Lokayukta court, on Friday January 18 dismissed the bail petition filed by Mohan Kumar, personal assistant of a minister. He was arrested when carrying cash amounting to Rs 25.76 lac in Vidhana Soudha.

Public prosecutor Ramesh Babu, putting forth arguments on behalf of Anti Corruption Bureau, pointed out that probe in the case in progress and some more accused are yet to be arrested. He said that reason for holding so much cash inside Vidhana Soudha needs to be found out and hence granting bail would not be right.

The Lokayukta court, which refused bail, considered the arguments that as per the circular of the government, employees who have brought cash with them to the office should mention the same in the note book maintained at the office, but Mohan had not made such a mention. If it was his personal money, reason for bringing it here has to be found out.

Advocate for the accused claimed in the court that the amount representing loan raised from friends and money borrowed by pledging gold ornaments belonging to wife and family members and that he had put together this money for house construction. He argued that there is no rule against bringing cash to Vidhana Soudha, but the accused failed to provide documents to substantiate this statement.

In the meanwhile, another employee, Anantu, to whom ACB police had issued notice to appeared for investigation, has filed for bail thorugh the Lokayukta court as he is afraid of getting arrested, it is said.