Three months after the attempt on Lokayukta Justice B Vishwanath Shetty’s life, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police submitted a charge sheet before the 8th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on June 1.
The charge sheet runs into 230 pages with 58 witness statements and 145 documents. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Jinendra Khanagavi submitted it.
The accused Tejaraj Sharma, a native of Tumakuru, confessed that he stabbed the Lokayukta several times out of anger since Justice Shetty had dismissed his petition against corruption in government offices due to lack of evidence. Sharma had also threatened government officials and intimidated them earlier, the charge sheet stated.
Sharma told the police that he was upset with Justice Shetty for not taking action against the corrupt officials despite repeated complaints and hence, decided to kill him. He entered the Lokayukta office armed with a knife on March 7 and met Justice Shetty at his chamber to get the updates on his complaints.
While Justice Shetty was explaining why he cannot further investigate, Sharma charged at him with the knife and stabbed him numerous times.
The CCB police who took up the case also probed the supari killing angle, but later ruled it out after detailed investigations, the charge sheet stated.
Sharma, who claimed to be an RTI activist, also blackmailed government officials for money by threatening to foist RTI and ACB cases against them, the charge sheet mentioned.
