Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Aug 25: Allegations of corruption have been levelled against Lokayukta Superintendent of Police (SP) of Ramanagara district, A N Swamy. Before his recent transfer, DIG Pranab Mohanty, ordered release of Swamy from service and brought Ramanagara district under the additional charge of Mysore district Lokayukta SP, D’Souza.

H N Dharmendra, inspector of Ramanagara rural station, was charged with demanding a bribe of Rs 15000 from Naganna, a resident of Tammannadoddi village, whose truck was stolen in September 2010. To be able to claim insurance money, Naganna sought ‘B’ report from the police, and Dharmendra reportedly demanded bribe for the same. Dharmendra was arrested by the Lokayukta police. Later, Dharmendra produced video and audio recordings of the fact that Lokayukta SP, A N Swamy, had demanded a bribe of two lac rupees to give him a clean chit.

It is gathered that the name of Bangalore city Lokayukta SP, Eshwarachandra Vidyasagar, has figured in the list of people who received kickbacks from Kharadapudi Mahesh from Bellary. As per the report submitted by Dr U V Singh, head of the Lokayukta investigating team against illegal mining,  Mahesh had paid a bribe of Rs 6.87 lac to the then SP of Koppal district on March 12, 2010. It is found that Vidyasagar was the SP of that district during the said period.

The new Lokayukta, Justice Shivaraj Patil, had appointed Vidyasagar the current post during August first week this year. The post had remained vacant since June  30, after IPS officer, K Madhukar Shetty, left for USA for higher studies. In the meantime, the investigation relating the allegation of bribe received by former Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa and his family members from Jindal group of mining companies, is being currently investigated by Vidyasagar, it is gathered.

It is gathered that the Lokayukta, after realizing that Vidyasagar’s name had been mentioned in the illegal mining report of the Lokayukta, said that a decision would be taken on the issue after a high level committee appointed by the government in this connection submits its report.