Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, June 23: Determined to root out corruption with the help of technology, Karnataka’s Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa has launched a fresh and innovative strategy to monitor and catch corrupt government officials who accept bribes through digital payment platforms.

During his surprise visits to various districts, Justice Veerappa has increasingly come across officials receiving hefty bribes via apps such as Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm. Anticipating raids, many officials are reportedly deleting these apps from their phones in haste.

However, Justice Veerappa—well aware of these tactics—has now begun taking a team of technical experts along with him. These experts are instructed to immediately reinstall deleted apps and check for any suspicious transactions that may indicate bribe payments. His secretary, Aravind N V, assists him in the operation.

During a recent unannounced inspection in Mandya district, nearly 500 officials were found to have hastily uninstalled digital payment apps. The technical team was quick to restore them and uncover evidence of large monetary transactions to the accounts of friends and relatives of the accused officials.

This tech-savvy move marks a significant step in the Lokayukta’s ongoing efforts to crack down on corruption and ensure transparency in public service.