Shettar appears before Lokayukta Court

BANGALORE: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Jagadish Shettar appeared in the Lokayukta Special Court on Monday in connection with the bribery case against KGF BJP MLA Y Sampangi.   Shettar, who was Assembly Speaker when Sampangi was trapped by Lokayukta police in January 2009 for accepting a bribe of `5 lakh from a businessman, had permitted the MLA’s prosecution. Hence, he was issued summons regarding the case recently. Shettar stated in court that he had to obtain the records according permission for Sampangi’s prosecution from the Speaker’s office and sought more time to present the evidence. Judge N K Sudheendra Rao, while permitting him the time, adjourned hearing till February 2.