Daijiworld Media Network - Kadaba (SP)

Kadaba, Oct 11: Officials of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), in a surprise raid, appeared before a village accountant and caught him redhanded when accepting a bribe for making changes in the Khata land records on Thursday, October 10 evening. Durgappa (24), village accountant of Ramakunja and Haleneranki villages in the taluk was taken aback when the ACB officials nabbed him.

Durgappa, a native of Kudligi taluk in Ballari district, has been posted as village accountant for both Haleneranki and Ramakunja villages. It is said that he was accepting a bribe from Sharat P N, resident of Kapikkad in Haleneranki village when he was caught.

Sharat had applied on February 20 this year, seeking to transfer the land standing in the name of his uncle to his name. Notice about Khata change was served to the applicant on September 12. Later, reportedly Durgappa had demanded payment of Rs 20,000 to affect the change as above in government records.

Sharat says that even though he paid Rs 5,000 to the village account, Durgappa continued to harass him for balance payment. Over time, he agreed to lower the demand and sought payment of at least Rs 8,000. Sharat, angered by the fact that Durgappa was pestering him for paying him the balance Rs 3,000, had complained to the ACB.

Durgappa, on Thursday, brought applicant, Sharat, in his motorbike to near Karnataka Bank branch on main road Puttur where he was collecting the balance amount when ACB officials arrested him. The bribe paid to him in cash was seized and further legal action is being taken.