The Hindu : Karnataka News : Two officials arrested on bribery charge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Two officials arrested on bribery charge

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Lokayukta police on Tuesday arrested two revenue officials in the Jayanagar sub-registrar's office and an "agent" on charges of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 18,000 for accepting stamp duty related to two flats owned by a private company.

The Lokayukta police, acting on a complaint by Kiruvakaran, representative of Mumbai-based Cine Laboratory, arrested Venkatesh Bhat and Renuka Prasad, both sub-registrars, and Nataraj, an "agent" for registering property documents.

According to the Superintendent of Police (Lokayukta), G. Ramesh, the company purchased flats near M.M. Industrial Estate in Yediyur in 1995. At the time of registration, there was undervaluation of property, and the Inspector General of Registration and Stamps ordered it to pay stamp duty of Rs. 2.16 lakhs. The laboratory appealed to the High Court, which directed it to pay the amount.

When Mr. Kiruvakaran went to pay the stamp duty in two demand drafts, he was reportedly made to wait for nearly 10 days. The accused allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs. 18,000 from Mr. Kiruvakaran, who brought the amount on Tuesday morning. Bhat directed him to Prasad, who sent him to Shadakshari, a first division assistant. Shadakshari accepted the demand drafts and directed Mr. Kiruvakaran to Nataraj. Nataraj allegedly accepted Rs. 18,000 and Mr. Kiruvakaran signalled to the Lokayukta police, who made the arrests.

The accused have been remanded in judicial custody.

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