Lokayukta attack: Attacker irked after complaint found invalid

Bengaluru: Tejaraj Sharma, the 33 year old furniture contractor and complainant from Rajasthan who stabbed Lokayukta Justice P. Vishwanath Shetty multiple times inside the Lokayukta’s own chambers on Wednesday, pulled out a knife and slashed at the Lokayukta when he was told that one of his complaints had been closed after it was found to be invalid.

Tejaraj is not new to the Lokayukta’s offices. A contractor from Tumkaru, he  supplies furniture to government offices. However, after losing out on a recent contract, he became a regular complainant and a frequent visitor to the Lokayukta office. Sources said he has lodged nearly eight to 10 complaints of corruption against several government officers accusing them of alleged malpractice in government tenders. Out of the ten complaints, five to six were closed after they were found to be bogus.

“On Wednesday he had come to the Lokayukta office at around 12.45 pm and signed as ‘Advocate Tejaraj’ in the visitors’ book at the entrance. One of his complaints pertaining to alleged malpractice in a government tender on purchase of furniture was due for final order today.  He had lodged the complaint in February last year against a local contractor, alleging malpractice after he had lost the tender to him. The enquiry file was with the Additional Registrar (Enquiry -V).

When Tejaraj went to the AR-E’s office on the third floor, his personal assistant told him that his complaint has been closed after it was found to be invalid. Tejaraj lost his cool and reportedly shouted at the PA. She asked him to approach the Lokayukta. He went down to the Lokayukta’s office on the first floor, barged inside his office and asked Justice Shetty why his inquiry was closed. The Lokayukta initially didn’t respond but later told Tejaraj not to waste his time by filing bogus complaints. An enraged Tejaraj took out the knife from his pocket and stabbed the Lokayukta multiple times on his face, hand, chest, stomach and left shoulder. The incident took place around 1.50pm,” said an official source.