Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal
Bantwal, May 14: The Karnataka Lokayukta, Mangaluru division, has taken into custody two officials from the Bantwal taluk treasury office after they were caught red-handed accepting a bribe from a complainant.
The complainant’s husband, who was working as a secretary in a gram panchayat under Bantwal taluk, had retired in October 2023. He passed away in June 2024. Following this, the complainant had visited Bantwal taluk treasury's chief accountant, Bhaskar, twice to enquire about the release of the death gratuity amount, but the matter was not resolved.
Subsequently, when the death gratuity was credited to the complainant’s account, Bhaskar allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 for himself and an additional Rs 5,000 for Basave Gowda B N, the first division assistant (FDA) at the Bantwal treasury. A case was registered against both officials at the Mangaluru Lokayukta police station.
On May 14, both Bhaskar and Basave Gowda B N were caught red-handed by the Lokayukta police while accepting Rs 5,000 each as a bribe from the complainant. They have been taken into custody, and an investigation is currently underway.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of superintendent of police (in-charge) Kumarachandra of Karnataka Lokayukta, Mangaluru division. The trap was executed by deputy superintendent of police Dr Gan P Kumar and Suresh Kumar P, along with inspectors Bharathi G and Chandrashekhar K N, and other staff members of the Mangaluru Lokayukta police station.