Why Tejraj Sharma stabbed Karnataka Lokayukta P Vishwanatha Shetty

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bengaluru, March 8, 2018: The news of someone stabbing Karnataka Lokayukta P Vishwanatha Shetty on Wednesday sent shockwaves across Karnataka. Shetty was stabbed multiple times and left bleeding by accused Tejraj Sharma, who was soon captured by security authorities. Shetty was rushed to a nearby hospital and senior officials of Karnataka Cabinet, including Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah, rushed to the hospital to know about victim’s health condition. However, one question boggled every mind – what would have led a person to unleash a murderous attack on Lokayukta in his own office.

Tejraj Sharma, 33, who hails from Tumakuru city and runs a furniture business, had lodged four complaints with the Karnataka Lokayukta in 2017, in which he had named 15 government officials with various departments in Tumakuru. Two of the four cases, however, were closed for want of evidence.

On Wednesday, he had come to meet the Lokayukta regarding one of the closed cases. That case was under the jurisdiction of Lokayukta P. Vishwanatha Shetty. The complaint number 720/201 was lodged on March 27, 2017 against eight officials with the Department of Public Instruction, Sericulture Department, Tumakuru Milk Producers’ Union, and Commerce and Industries Department. It had been probed by Additional Registrar of Enquiries-5 K.A. Lalitha and was closed in September 2017 for lack of evidence.

Previous run-in
Sources said that over two weeks ago, Tejraj met Mr. Shetty and allegedly cursed him saying god would punish him for closing the case. On Tuesday, he visited the Lokayukta office and met the judicial officer requesting to reopen the probe. Though he waited till 5 p.m., he couldn’t meet Mr. Shetty. On Wednesday, he came again and sought to reopen the case. But this ended with him stabbing Mr. Shetty.

City Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar told the media that Tejraj had participated in various tenders but failed to bag any of them. He blamed this on irregularities and approached the Lokayukta. Sources in Tumakuru described Tejraj as “short-tempered”, who always made allegations of irregularities in the tendering process when he failed to get a contract.

“He may have been frustrated because his complaints with the Lokayukta were closed. It may have pushed him to the brink,” said a police official.

Tejraj is a complainant in three other cases as well, all pertaining to the jurisdiction of Upalokayukta. Of these three cases — 1238/2017, 1196/2017 and 719/2017 — one was closed in August 2017. These cases are also against officials of various departments in Tumakuru.

He waited for ‘auspicious Wednesday’
“A devout Sharma believed in astrology. As per him, Wednesday was an auspicious and lucky day for him. He was waiting for a Wednesday when there will be Vishakha nakshatra. As this Wednesday was one such, he planned to murder. He thought that nothing will happen to him as he was committing the murder on such a day,” an official said.

Not with family
Tejraj’s family is from Rajasthan, but they settled in Tumakuru several decades ago. His father Roopchand Sharma lives in Tiptur and is a cook. Tejraj has not lived with his family since 1998. People in his neighbourhood said he also owned a tile factory, which was running under huge loss.

Tejraj’s eldest brother Jagadish Sharma works as a tours and travel agent with SRS Travels while another brother Purushotham Sharma sells bags on M G Road in Tumakuru. His brother describes him as an introvert and short-tempered person. “He used to visit us once in a while. He would have tea and leave,” said Purushotham Sharma,who lives with his mother.