Bengaluru: Corrupt officer caught red-handed while ‘returning’ bribe

Bengaluru: Lokayukta sleuths on Wednesday caught a special land acquisition officer of the KIADB and his assistant red-handed while returning the bribe amount they had received.

The arrested accused have been identified as A.B. Vijay Kumar, KAS, (special acquisition officer-2) and assistant Raghunath, land surveyor.

The complainant, Bhagath Singh Arun, owned 4.3 acres of land at Laggere and had applied to get a NOC for 30 guntas of land which was not acquired by the KIADB.

However, Vijay Kumar demanded Rs 2.5 lakh bribe to issue the certificate. Arun paid the amount to him.

He then filed a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Land Acquisition against Vijay Kumar.

Following this, Kumar was summoned for inquiry, in order to escape from it, Kumar called Arun and offered to return the bribe with an additional Rs 50,000.

In return, Kumar asked Arun to withdraw the complaint filed against him. Arun recorded the conversation and complained to Lokayukta.

They laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while returning the bribe.

The accused have been taken into custody.