Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, May 28: The Karnataka Lokayukta police in Mangaluru on Tuesday trapped a deputy director of the Department of Mines and Geology while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 through a driver, in connection with a file related to land levelling and stone removal.
According to a press release from the Karnataka Lokayukta, Dakshina Kannada district, the complainant had submitted an application on October 28, 2024, to the Department of Mines and Geology in Mangaluru, seeking permission to remove building stones and level 0.35 acres of land in Survey No. 279/5 at Ira village in Ullal taluk. The application was made on behalf of an acquaintance who holds a GPA for the land.
Despite a report from the Ullal tahsildar on March 21, 2025, stating that a certificate or clearance could be issued for removal of stones from the site for levelling purposes, the Mines Department had not granted permission.
When the complainant visited the office to follow up, the deputy director of the Mines Department, Krishnaveni, allegedly summoned staff member Pradeep and demanded Rs 50,000 to process and sign the file.
Acting on the complaint, a case was registered against both Krishnaveni and Pradeep at the Mangaluru Lokayukta police station. On May 28, Lokayukta police caught Krishnaveni accepting the bribe through her driver Madhu.
The accused have been taken into custody and are being investigated.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Kumarachandra, SP (in-charge), Karnataka Lokayukta, Mangaluru Division. The trap was led by Dr Gana P Kumar, DySP of Mangaluru Lokayukta police station, with the support of inspectors Suresh Kumar P, Bharathi G, Chandrashekhar K N from Mangaluru, and Manjunath and Rajendra Naik from the Udupi Lokayukta police station.
History of Mines Dept DD Krishnaveni
After her deputation in Mangaluru, MInes Department deputy director Krishnaveni had faced a series of allegations. Her statements in support of the sand mafia had sparked controversy in the district. District in-charge minister Gundurao had even warned her about irregularities in her department in a meeting. In response, she had denied allegations of sand mining in Pavoor Uliya, claiming the live videos captured by Daijiworld TV were stock footage. However, Daijiworld had challenged her to prove her statements and also to expose any corruption.
Show-cause notice and raid on Krishnaveni's residence
On March 24, the district in-charge minister issued a show-cause notice to Krishnaveni, an official of the mines and geology department, for her unexplained absence during the Janatha Darshana programme held on February 5.
Earlier in 2024, Lokayukta officials from Mangaluru and Chikkaballapur had conducted a raid at Krishnaveni’s residence. The raid took place just two months after she assumed charge.