Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jun 26: Divisional controller of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation’s (KSRTC) Puttur division, P Yashwanth, and security officer, Kari Gowda, have been suspended from service by the managing director of KSRTC on charges of accepting bribe.

Investigating officer in the case, Jayaprakash, confirmed that Yashwant has confessed to having accepted bribe for affecting transfer of cashier of the office, Deviprasad Shetty, to Madikeri.

It is learnt that Deviprasad Shetty used to work in Madikeri office of KSRTC. On December 20, 2012, he was found to be in possession of excess money when leaving office premises. In the form of punishment, he was therefore transferred to Puttur, it is learnt.

Shetty thereafter complained to the vigilance cell of KSRTC, stating that Yashwant had collected Rs 10,000 from him in the form of bribe for favouring him with a transfer back to Madikeri. He also provided a audio recording of the conversation between the two as proof.

In this background, the divisional controller was suspended after an internal inquiry. Yashwant had in the past, also been suspended along with some other employees from service when working at Chikmagalur in the capacity of divisional mechanical engineer, for misappropriation of funds relating to purchase of battery cables.

The security officer was suspended on the basis of Deviprasad Shetty’s complaint that the former had collected Rs 10,000 as bribe for exonerating him of the charges based on which he was transferred from Madikeri to Puttur. Internal inquiry was also held in this case, it is gathered.