KU: Arrest warrant against prime witness issued

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A Lok Ayukta bench, hearing the petition alleging corruption in the recruitment of assistants to the Kerala University, issued an arrest warrant against the prime witness in the case. The arrest warrant was issued after the witness, Bhani Krishna of Andhra Pradesh, failed to appear before the judicial forum for deposition. Lok Ayukta Justice G Sasidharan was scheduled to examine the statements of Bhani Krishna, former manager of the press in Andhra Pradesh where the OMR sheets for the written test were printed and Sreenivasa Rao, the owner of the press. But, both of them did not turn up. However, Sreenivasa Rao had sent a leave application, following which the court sent a summons notice to appear before the forum on November 25. At the same time, the Lok Ayukta decided to issue an arrest warrant to Bhani Krishna as he did not respond to the summons notice that was served on him earlier. The Lok Ayukta attributed the hasty move in response to the High Court directive to dispose of the case at the earliest.