Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Nov 30: Bangalore city district special deputy commissioner, H Ramanjaneya, and three middlemen working as his accomplices, were arrested by the Lokayukta policemen on Monday November 29. The official has been charged with accepting bribe for issuing land conversion order.

The investigating team has arrested Ganganna, Navin and Babu, accused of acting as middlemen to collect money on behalf of the above official. All the arrested persons would be produced in the court after completion of preliminary investigation, it is learnt. The deputy commissioner is from Doddahalli village in Pavagada taluk, and the three middlemen are from the same taluk, and are relatives of the official.

On October 25, Narayanaswamy from Bommasanra village in Anekal taluk had applied for conversion of his 5.14 acre farm land for industrial purpose. Besides making payment of Rs 9.7 lac as conversion charges to the government, he also had met Ramanjaneya in this connection, and the official is said to have demanded a bribe of two lac rupees. When Narayanaswamy visited his office on November 18, the special deputy commissioner reportedly used filthy language against the former and demanded Rs 15,000 immediately. Later, the farmer had made payment of Rs 50,000. But the official demanded full payment before the order could be issued.

Narayanaswamy had made arrangements to pay Rs 50,000 on Monday November 29 evening, and the official had directed him to deliver the money to a person who would approach him near his office. The Lokayukta police, who laid in wait, arrested the middlemen and the special deputy commissioner.

It is gathered that the Lokayukta police had received complaints against the above official over phone, saying that he usually demanded money in the name of temple renovations, directing the concerned to the middlemen, saying that they were renovating temples. Once he identified the people, the middlemen used to chase them for payment, it is learnt.