Bengaluru, July 5 -- The Karnataka Lokayukta on Friday recommended disciplinary action against senior IPS officer Srinath Mahadev Joshi for his suspected involvement in an extortion racket that laundered nearly Rs.5 crore through cryptocurrency. The anti-corruption watchdog, in a letter to the state chief secretary, dated July 3, has sought action under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules after a preliminary probe linked the officer to the accused.

Joshi, a former superintendent of police in the Lokayukta's Bengaluru office, is alleged to have maintained contact with G Ningappa alias Ningappa Sawant, a dismissed head constable who impersonated Lokayukta personnel to extort bribes from government officials. The Lokayukta stated that Wh...