Bengaluru: In a key development in the Karnataka Lokayukta extortion case, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday permitted the Lokayukta police to issue a fresh summons to IPS officer Srinath Mahadev Joshi, allowing them to continue questioning him over alleged links with a dismissed constable accused of impersonation and extortion.
Background: High-Profile Probe into Corruption Impersonation
Joshi, a former Superintendent of Police with the Karnataka Lokayukta, was linked to Ningappa Savant, a dismissed police constable who allegedly posed as a Lokayukta officer to extort money from government officials. The case came to light after a Tumkur Regional Transport Officer (RTO) filed a complaint on May 23, 2025, about receiving a call from someone claiming to be SP Vamsi Krishna of the Bengaluru City Lokayukta, demanding a bribe to prevent a raid.
This triggered an investigation, leading to Savant’s arrest on June 2, and the subsequent unearthing of call records, WhatsApp chats, and cryptocurrency transactions allegedly connecting him with Joshi.
Court Proceedings and Orders
The Karnataka HC had earlier stayed the initial summons issued to Joshi by the Lokayukta police. However, in its latest order, the court stated that since the earlier summons date had expired, the police are free to issue a new notice. Joshi may be summoned within the next 10 days, and he has the right to seek anticipatory bail.
Joshi’s earlier anticipatory bail plea was dismissed by the Lokayukta Special Court on June 24, which termed the plea “devoid of merit.” He also secured a media gag order on June 20 to restrain media houses from allegedly defamatory reporting about his role.
Serious Allegations and Cryptocurrency Trail
The Lokayukta police, in a recent statement, revealed that Joshi was in active communication with Savant, and together they had been threatening officials. Their conversations allegedly used code words like ‘kg’ to indicate bribe amounts, and funds were reportedly converted into cryptocurrency.
Investigators claim that Savant held 23 crypto wallets, with Rs 4.92 crore found in 13 of them. The Lokayukta police raided Joshi’s residence on June 15. They approached the High Court on June 30, seeking permission to continue the probe, citing the impact on the credibility of the anti-corruption watchdog.
Savant’s Bail and Pending FIR
Savant was granted interim bail on June 19 by the High Court following a plea from his wife, who claimed that the arrest procedure violated Supreme Court guidelines. On Tuesday, the High Court also reserved its verdict on Savant’s plea seeking to quash the FIR filed against him.
