Karnataka: Mangaluru’s Deputy Director of Agriculture Caught Red-handed Accepting Rs 1-lakh Bribe – News18

A deputy director of the agriculture department was caught red-handed by Lokayukta personnel while accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh. The accused had asked for the bribe in exchange for processing a bill concerning the funds allocated for acquiring saplings for plantation under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada district.

The complaint against Bharathamma, deputy director of agriculture in Mangaluru, was made by NP Paramesh, who had been serving as a range forest officer (RFO) in the forest department on deputation to the watershed department of the agriculture department and he had retired from service on August 31. There was an outstanding amount of Rs 50 lakh owed to nursery owners and contractors for the saplings they had provided.

The complainant had contacted Bharathamma on October 4 and requested her to settle the bill. However, the official demanded a bribe amounting to 15 percent of the total bill for its clearance. On October 20, the complainant revisited her to inquire about the bill, and at that point, she reduced the bribe amount to Rs 1 lakh. He later lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta, following which the official was arrested on Saturday.

Lokayukta superintendent of police CA Simon said on Sunday that Bharathamma has been arrested and will be presented in court. The operation was executed under the supervision of Lokayukta SP, with the assistance of deputy SP Kalavathi, B Chaluvaraju, inspector P Suresh Kumar and other personnel.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)