Lakshmeshwar cop sought bribe from lorry driver, assaulted him: minister

Home Minister G Parameshwara has said that Lakshmeshwar police station sub-inspector S Dayanand had demanded Rs 40,000 as bribe from a sand lorry driver who died after he was reportedly beaten up by the police.

Replying to a matter raised by BJP’s Pradeep Shettar in the Legislative Council on Thursday, the minister said that Dayanand was following the lorry driven by Shivappa.

The driver had assured the sub-inspector that he would give him Rs 40,000 the following day. The incident happened on February 5. 

The minister said the CID is probing the incident. After getting the report, Dayanand and police constable Ashok Pujar may be dismissed, Parameshwara added.

Parameshwara said Shivappa had not obeyed the sub-inspector’s orders to stop the lorry. The sub-inspector finally intercepted the lorry and assaulted Shivappa. The driver went home and died at 6.30 am the following day. Enraged by this incident, a mob attacked the Lakshmeshwar police station.

Shivappa’s family had charged that he died because of police atrocities. The mob had set afire at least nine police vehicles in Lakshmeshwar of Gadag district.

The minister admitted that it has come to the notice of the government that tahsildars and officials of the transport department and public works are harassing people involved in illegal sand mining.