In the city of Bengaluru, a significant event unfolded as the Lokayukta police successfully apprehended a revenue official, Vasanth Kumar, and his unnamed driver for engaging in corrupt activities.
The incident came to light when the two were caught red-handed while accepting a bribe, as confirmed by senior officials on a Thursday.
Vasanth Kumar, the revenue inspector stationed at Madavara Circle, Dasanapura hobli in northern Bengaluru, faced allegations from a man in Sunkadakatte.
The complainant accused Kumar of demanding a hefty sum of Rs 28 lakh in exchange for the subdivision of survey numbers on an agricultural piece of land. Prior to their arrest, the situation escalated when Kumar accepted Rs 3.5 lakh in cash and a cheque amounting to Rs 4 lakh.
The Lokayukta authorities swiftly orchestrated a trap to catch the offenders in the act. The rendezvous point for the illicit exchange was near Siri Darshini restaurant, situated next to the prominent Iskcon Temple in Rajajinagar.
The arrest took place late on Wednesday evening.The operation unfolded seamlessly as Kumar handed over Rs 4 lakh in cash to his driver. This exchange led to the immediate apprehension of both individuals by the Lokayukta sleuths.
While the driver claimed ignorance of Kumar’s activities, investigators deemed him complicit in the act since he received the bribe. Subsequent to the arrests, officials conducted a search of Kumar’s residence near Yelahanka.
The search yielded a substantial amount of evidence, including Rs 9 lakh in cash, which included the bribe taken earlier, and several pending files.
The anti-graft agency affirmed that investigations are ongoing.In response to the egregious actions, a case has been officially registered under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to curb corruption within administrative circles, with the authorities committed to upholding the law and bringing individuals involved in such activities to justice.