Lokayukta nabs Village Administrative Officer, aide in Kalaburagi bribe trap

Karnataka Lokayukta police on Thursday arrested a Village Administrative Officer and a private individual in Kalaburagi district on charges of accepting a bribe of ₹10,000 for processing the mutation of agricultural land.

The accused were identified as Ramesh, the Village Administrative Officer of Udnur, and Sagar, a private individual who worked alongside him.

The complaint was filed by Satish Kumar Patil of Kalaburagi, who had approached Ramesh to get land belonging to his mother, Mallamma, mutated in the records. The property comprises four acres in Survey No. 76/2 and three acres 34 guntas in Survey No. 95/3 at Udnur village, adding up to seven acres 34 guntas.

Ramesh allegedly sought ₹10,000 to carry out the mutation. Acting on the complaint, the Lokayukta police laid a trap and caught the two while they were allegedly receiving the money at the Village Administrative Officer's office.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Siddaraju C., Superintendent of Police, Karnataka Lokayukta, Kalaburagi. Investigation officer and inspector Rajshekhar S. Badadesar led the trap.