In fresh trouble for excise minister M.P. Renukacharya, a staunch follower of former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, the Lokayukta court on Saturday ordered the Lokayukta police to probe and file a report on alleged violation of excise rules, based on the statement of deputy commissioner excise, Mr Mohan Kumar, who claimed that some of the seized alcohol bottles were meant for the minister.
Mr Mohan Kumar, who is currently under judicial custody on corruption charges, while deposing before Judge N.K. Sudhindra Rao, said he had kept a few bottles of expensive whiskey on the directions of the minister.
“The minister had directed me to keep aside three bottles of Johnny Walker whiskey, measuring 4.5 litres, to be later sent to a resort,” said advocate C.G. Sundar, quoting Mr Mohan Kumar.
The judge, who took the oral statement as a complaint that some of the seized bottles were meant for the minister, later directed the Lokayukta police to probe and file a report to the court on whether the minister has misused his office, attracting charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The advocate said that as it is a special court, the judge can suo motu consider such statements under Section 2(d) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and order an inquiry.