The Hindu

• They allegedly demanded money for official favours 

Kumar Nayak allegedly demanded Rs. 7,500 from a BWSSB contractor
Lokayukta police book cases under Prevention of Corruption Act

Bangalore, Apr 4: The Lokayukta police on Monday trapped a Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board official and a Revenue Inspector of Anekal Town Municipal Councior allegedly accepting bribe for doing an official favour.

According to the Superintendent of Police (Lokayukta) Bangalore Urban, S. Ramesh, BWSSB Assistant Executive Engineer of North Division Kumar Nayak allegedly demanded Rs. 7,500 from B. Prakash, a licensed BWSSB contractor, for sanctioning him a contract for installing a water connection at a commercial property in Sahakari Nagar.

Mr. Prakash reportedly gave the amount to Nayak in the latter's office in Malleswaram. The Lokayukta police team nabbed Nayak after he had kept the money in a drawer, Mr. Ramesh said.

In another case, the Bangalore Rural Lokayukta police team trapped O. Devaraj, the Revenue Inspector in Anekal Town Municipal Council, while he was allegedly accepting Rs. 3,000 from B. Bheemaraj of Patipur, for making changes in Khata and Mutation related to a land.

Superintendent of Police of Bangalore Rural Lokayukta police M. Nagaraj said Devaraj had allegedly demanded Rs. 10,000 for making the required changes. He reportedly asked Mr. Bheemaraj to pay Rs. 3,000 as the first instalment of the agreed amount on Monday. Devaraj was caught while accepting the money and keeping it in his pocket.

Denied

When both the officials were produced before Lokayukta N. Venkatachala, Nayak denied accepting any money from the contractor. "I have received award for best revenue collection from you [Lokayukta].

His [contractor's] file is not pending with me. The complainant, who has a grudge against me, has made arrangements for `trapping' me," Nayak told the Lokayukta.

The Revenue Inspector admitted before Lokayukta about accepting bribe from Bheemaraj.

The Lokayukta police have booked cases under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. Both the officials were produced before the jurisdictional judges on Monday night.

No communication

Later, Mr. Venkatachala told reporters that he has not received any communication from the State Government about extending his term as Lokayukta, which comes to an end in June.

He also has not received any communication about giving more powers to the Lokayukta.

Mr. Venkatachala said he has asked the Lokayukta police officers to expedite the investigation of the five suspended police officials, who were trapped allegedly for amassing wealth worth about Rs. 60 crore.