Bribe-taking KAS officer nabbed

Luck ran out for 58-year-old Ramanjaneya, Special Deputy Commissioner (Bangalore Urban), who fell into the Lokayukta dragnet on Monday evening in his office.

There were allegations that Ramanjaneya, a Karnataka Administrative Service officer, was abusing his position by indulging in fraudulent activities. However, there was no proof to substantiate the charges.

Much to the shock of officials and touts, Ramanjaneya and two of his private aides were caught on the charge of accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a land owner, identified as Narayanaswamy of Bommasandra.

Lokayukta sources said Narayanaswamy approached Ramanjaneya to get a 5.14-acre agricultural land at Bommasandra in Anekal Taluk converted into residential plots. As a quid pro quo, Ramanjaneya demanded a Rs 2-lakh bribe which Narayanaswamy agreed to pay in instalments. The first instalment was Rs 50,000.

Sometime last week, after leaving the Urban DC’s office, Narayanaswamy approached the Lokayukta police and lodged a complaint. Subsequently a trap was laid. On Monday evening, Narayanaswamy went to the DC’s office to pay the amount. Ramanjaneya directed him to pay the money to his confidant Gangappa.

When Narayanaswamy approached Gangappa, he asked him to pay the money to Raju. The moment Raju took the cash, Lokayukta sleuths caught him red-handed. Along with Raju, Gangappa and Ramanjaneya were also arrested under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

“We arrested him along with two persons in his office while accepting the bribe,” said RK Dutta, Additional Director General of Police (Lokayukta). According to Revenue Department sources, Ramanjaneya was under the Lokayukta radar in connection with the KIADB scam.