Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Oct 22: Bharatamma, the deputy director of agricultural department, who was receiving Rs one lac bribe to approve Rs 50 lac bill related to supply of horticulture plant supply and planting, was arrested by Lokayukta police.

Paramesh N P, who was zonal forest officer in the agricultural department had distributed Rs 50 lac worth plants of various types freely to public of various villages in 2022-23 and 2023-24 under Pradhanmantri Krishi Sinchayi WDC 2.0 scheme that falls under the agricultural department. He had kept Rs 18 lac pending to the nurseries who supplied the plants and Rs 32 lac to the forest contractor who planted the sapling. Paramesh retired in August 2023.

The forest contractors were pressurising Paramesh to clear their bill of Rs 32 lac. Hence, Paramesh met Bharatamma on October 4 and requested to approve the bill. However, Bharatamma demanded 15% of the bill amount as bribe. When she was contacted again, she reduced the bribe amount to Rs one lac.

Paramesh informed the matter to Lokayukta police. On October 21, When Bharatamma was receiving Rs one lac cash in the office, Lokayukta raided and caught her red-handed. The police took her into custody, confiscated the bribe amount and produced her to the court.