JOIN USThree officials from the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) were on Tuesday caught red-handed, while accepting bribe from a land owner.
They were trapped after the Lokayukta received a complaint.
The officers included tahsildar Siddalingaiah, special land acquisition officer Bhimawar and case worker Kantaraju. The KHB had acquired land in Rayasandra near Kanakapura Road and was supposed to compensate landowners, most of them farmers according to the size of the land they owned.
The officers were allegedly demanding bribes to release the cheque for the compensation money.
One of the landowners - Nandish - who owned 30 acres of land was supposed to get Rs 30 lakh as compensation. The KHB officials demanded Rs one lakh to release this amount.
More money demanded
Nandish said the tahsildar had previously demanded Rs 30,000, which he had given. Following the demand for more money, he lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta.
A team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police V P M Swamy set up a trap on Tuesday evening and arrested the three officials, while they were receiving the bribe.
The officers were produced before a special court and have been remanded in judicial custody. Following the arrest, many other farmers from the area came to the Lokayukta police and complained that they too had to pay bribes to get the money.
Meter reader caught
In another incident, BWSSB meter reader Sadashiv was caught receiving a bribe from retired army officer Srinivas.
The 65-year-old army officer, a resident of Mathikere, had rented out four rooms for paying guests as a source of income.
The BWSSB meter reader who came to know of this, threatened the senior citizen that he would convert the water connection meter to a commercial one and demanded a bribe not to do it. For years, he collected Rs 500 from the army officer every month.
Recently, Sadashiv increased the bribe money. The army officer refused to pay bribes anymore.
Following this, Sadashiv came to Srinivas’ residence and created a furore outside. Neighbours who saw it urged Srinivas not to pay the bribe and file a complaint. Lokayukta Inspector Niranjan laid a trap and arrested Sadashiv on Tuesday morning.