Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 27: Lokesh (50), assistant accounts officer in the audit and accounts department of Karnataka government, was nabbed by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials on Friday April 26 when accepting bribe from the principal of a college. During the raid, the ACB officials recovered Rs 2.50 lac found in the possession of the official.

The principal of the government first grade college at Bettampady, Puttur, is to retire by the end of May this year. He needed audit clearance certificate to claim retirement benefits. Lokesh, it is said, had demanded payment bribe of Rs 2.50 lac in order to issue this certificate. The principal, taken aback by the demand, had approached the ACB with this information.

Under the guidance of ACB officials, the principal promised to pay the bribe as demanded, and asked Lokesh to come to Mangaluru. Lokesh arrived from Bengaluru in his private vehicle and stayed in a hotel at Suratkal. The principal visited the hotel in the afternoon. When the accused was accepting the bribe, the ACB officials raided the spot.

The raid was conducted under the directions of ACB superintendent of police, Uma Prashanth, by inspectors, Yogeesh Kumar B C and Mohan Kottary, with the participation of other staff.