Bengaluru: Joint Commissioner L N Mohan Kumar from Excise Department who is on the run is yet to be traced by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths that specializes in carrying out swift raids on corrupt officers’ residences and offices after the ACB sleuths allege they found unaccounted money with him.
A search operation conducted on July 20 at the officer’s house revealed he was possessing Rs 11.35 lakh unaccounted cash.
As soon as the ACB officers began questioning Kumar, he complained of uneasiness and got himself admitted to the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Bellary on the same day.
Soon after, he got himself admitted to Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research on July 22.
He was discharged on July 31 and claimed to be availing treatment at the Institute of Nephro-Urology (INU) situated in the Victoria Hospital campus.
“Mohan Kumar tried for bail from a court in Hospet but his appeal was dismissed by the court. Later, he applied for bail from the High Court but in vain,” said an ACB officer.
After disappearing the officer sent to the agency stating that he was undergoing treatment at the INU, Victoria Hospital and that he would soon attend the inquiry after he is done with treatment.
“We have sent a letter by registered post to his native village (L N Mohan Kumar, S/o Lakshminarasimha Gowda, Nagavalli village, Tumkur taluk) but the postal department returned the letter to us stating that the address could not be found. We are sending our staff to the INU at Victoria Hospital to verify whether Kumar is admitted there,” said the ACB officer.
When news source visited the INU at Victoria Hospital as per Kumar’s claim they found the officer has lied and is not undergoing treatment in Victoria hospital.
“There is a patient by name Mohan Kumar but his father’s name is different,’’ says a hospital staff, who wishes to remain anonymous.
However, Excise Commissioner Yashwant V has confirmed that Mohan Kumar has applied for sick leave and that he is also aware of the unaccounted cash seized from him.
“Mohan Kumar is a senior officer. I can’t sanction his sick leave. I have forwarded his sick leave application and the letter written by the ACB to the higher authorities. I do not have the power to sanction his sick leave or suspend him from service based on the ACB letter,’’ said Yashwant.