Karnataka - Bangalore

Lokayukta warns arrested officer

BANGALORE: The Lokayukta will consider filing a petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to Chamarajanagar district Superintendent of Police Srikantappa if he does not cooperate with the investigating authorities.

Lokayukta Santosh Hegde told presspersons here on Friday that Mr. Srikantappa, who was arrested by the Lokayukta police after being caught while allegedly accepting a bribe from a businessman, had obtained bail. The Lokayukta would also recommend to the Government to suspend the officer, he said.

Mr. Hegde said the Lokayukta police had evidence to prove the corruption charge against the officer. Mr. Srikantappa used a middleman, Subbanna, to negotiate and also accept bribes on his behalf.

The Lokayukta police had recorded the conversation between the middleman and the officer while they were discussing the bribe to be collected from the businessman. Mr. Subbanna had told Mr. Srikantappa that the businessman wanted the amount asked for reduced. But the officer insisted that he should pay the full amount, observing that the businessman was rich enough to pay, the Lokayukta said.

The Lokayukta police raided the Mysore residence of Mr. Srikantappa soon after his arrest. They found that he owned another house in a good locality and two sites in Mysore city, besides a farm on the outskirts of Mysore. The valuation of the property was yet to be done.

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