BeyondHeadlines Staff Reporter
Bangalore: Lok ayukta caught a deputy conservator of forests of Kollegal red-handed when he was in possession of Rs 8 lakh bribe. However, the officer claimed it was not his money and that he was being falsely being charged. The documents are now being closely checked.
On the night of March 19, Lokayukta sleuths were allegedly tipped off about DCF Narayana Swamy travelling to Bangalore with Rs 8 lakh bribe amount. The sleuths, who waited on the outskirts of Kollegal, trapped him with the said amount at 7.45 a.m. on March 20 and arrested him. He was travelling alone in his official car, along with the bribe amount in a box.
ADGP, Lokayukta RK Dutta, said that although a number of IFS officers were trapped by the Lokayukta sleuths, this was the first time that someone was caught red-handed.
“We were informed about the illegal money transaction which happened yesterday, and we expected him to travel today. After the trap, we subjected the officer to enquiry, but he failed to give a proper explanation. He denies about the money and claims that he has been framed by someone who had dropped the amount in his car without his knowledge.”
Investigation is going on to check as to where he had procured the bribe from. However, sources alleged that lower rank officers like regional forest officers had collected the bribe amount and handed it over to him.
“As the officer failed to give an acceptable explanation, he was produced before a magistrate in Chamarajnagar, who remanded him to judicial custody till March 31,” Dutta said.
Lok ayukta sleuths are still investigating to trace the source of the bribe amount.
