Trash contractor threatens BBMP official over Rs 63L

Rajarajeshwari Nagar police have arrested a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) solid waste management contractor V Venkatesh for threatening RR Nagar BBMP joint commissioner Balashekar H.

Ward number 17 contractor Venkatesh visited the zonal office on Wednesday and demanded Balashekar to clear pending bills of Rs 51.65 lakh and Rs 12.23 lakh.

According to police officials, when the joint commissioner examined two files related to Venkatesh’s payment, he found that a retired officer had already signed the file.

When Venkatesh came to know this, he and six associates visited the zonal office and forced Balasekar to return the file immediately. However, they were told that the law doesn’t allow it.

In the FIR, Balashekar alleged that on October 5 at around 9.30 am, Venkatesh had visited his residence along with his associate Sunil Gowda and threatened him to return the file. He also alleged that Venkatesh misbehaved with him.

Later, Balashekar lodged a complaint against the contractor in RR Nagar police station and sought action against Venkatesh and Sunil Gowda.

The police formed a team to nab the accused and arrested Venkatesh on Sunday. They are still searching for the other accused Gowda.

According to BBMP officials, Venkatesh was awarded the contract to clear garbage in Ward number 17, JP Park. He had forced the BBMP officials to release garbage transportation bill for registrations of vehicles like bike, car and passenger autos.

At the BBMP Council meeting on August 14, RR Nagar MLA Munirathna Naidu revealed that garbage contractors are raising fake bills for registration of Ambassador cars, passenger auto-rickshaws and goods rickshaws to collect garbage in the JP Park ward.

Following the allegation by the MLA over the alleged irregularities in solid waste management in RR Nagar, BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad issued orders to suspend junior health inspector and assistant engineer of the JP Park ward, who worked in 2016, over dereliction of duty.