JOIN USLokayukta slueths arrest 2 RTO clerks, 5 touts
Based on a complaint filed by Ashok, an insurance agent, slueths led by Lokayukta Udupi SP Jagadeshamayi conducted the raid and arrested Prabhakara and Yogish, who are clerks in the RTO Office and middlemen identified as Raghunath, Santhosh, Keshav Pai and Nagaraj.
The complainant, meeting Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde in person had explained that the officials in the Mangalore RTO Office are troubling the public by not issuing learning licence, driving licence, registration certificates and other documents on time just for bribe.
Following this, the Lokayukta directed the Udupi SP to conduct a raid. Accordingly the SP along with Lokayukta cops of Udupi and Karwar arrived in Mangalore in a special bus and rounded the RTO Office. Cops found money in the drawers of the clerks.
Speaking to media persons, Jagadeshamaya said that the raid was conducted based on the directions of the Lokayukta. “We have got a complaint that officials in Mangalore RTO Office are not issuing LLR, DL and RCs on time and moreover, they seek huge amount as bribe from the public. It was also alleged that agents play the role of middlemen to collect huge amount from the public. Hence, we conducted a raid and arrested six.” He said that the Lokayukta will interrogate the accused and higher ups will be nabbed, if their involvement was proved. The complainant said that officials in Mangalore RTO Office take atleast 10 days to issue a certificate, which can be completed in one day. “They unnecessarily delay the work only to demand money from the public. The fixed fee for the transfer of a two-wheeler is only Rs 35. However, people were forced to shell out Rs 300. Officials starting from ARTOs to attenders get the share from the bribe,” he charged.