He had made it a habit to get officers trapped and later collude with them

Mandya: The Mandya District and Sessions Judge Vasthradmutt has ordered registering a criminal case against one Ravikumar, a resident of Guttalu Extension in Mandya and District Vice-President of an outfit, for turning hostile witness in a case during trial.

In fact, it was Ravikumar who had complained to Lokayukta against an officer in 2014 for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs. 30,000. Based on his complaint, the Lokayukta had trapped Mandya Social Welfare Officer Yoganand and had arrested him red-handed.

Yoganand was produced before the Court and a charge-sheet was submitted after investigation. The case is being heard by the Mandya District and Sessions Court.

During the trial, Ravikumar had colluded with the accused Yoganand and the charges did not stand and this led to Yoganand’s acquittal.

Observing that the complainant himself had turned hostile when the case came for trial, Judge Vasthradmutt issued notice to Ravikumar seeking explanation as to why a criminal case should not be lodged against him for turning hostile and giving a different version to the Court that led to travesty of justice.

The Court also included the accusation of Ravikumar misusing the Lokayukta and the Police machinery. Replying to the notice, Ravikumar claimed that he had spoken nothing but truth in the Court.

However, Special Public Prosecutor T.S. Satyananda argued in the Court that Ravikumar had made it a habit of getting Lokayukta and other anti-corruption Police to trap corrupt Government officers. Once the officers are trapped, Ravikumar compromises with the corrupt officers so that their case in the Court is weakened and they are acquitted.

Satyananda brought to the Court’s notice that Ravikumar was a habitual offender who misused the Lokayukta and also spoiled the precious time of the Court. Citing many examples, he convinced the Court to take action against Ravikumar.

Citing many examples, Satyananda demonstrated how Ravikumar got officers like K.R. Pet Circle Inspector Prabhakar, K.R. Pet Agricultural Department Assistant Director Shivaraj and K.R. Nagar Deputy Tahsildar Yadugirish trapped by Lokayukta and how he turned hostile later after colluding with the officers.

The Special Public Prosecutor told the Court that Ravikumar also threatened Government officers and many cases have been booked against him in K.R. Pet. All the cases are in the trial stage.

Taking the matter seriously and after examining all the records, Judge Vasthradmutt directed the Police to file a criminal complaint against Ravikumar.