The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Town planner in Lokayukta net

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 17, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Town planner in Lokayukta net

Staff Reporter

H.R. Venkatesh was caught accepting Rs. 3.5 lakh for issuing a no-objection certificate

FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde producing H.R. Venkatesh (standing centre) before mediapersons in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: A town planning official was on Friday night caught by the Bangalore Rural Lokayukta police while allegedly accepting Rs. 3.5 lakh from a person for issuing an no-objection certificate (NOC).

H.R. Venkatesh, a junior town planner on deputation to the Bangalore International Airport Area Planning Authority, had allegedly demanded Rs. 4 lakh from T.J. Abraham, Director of Alpha Holding and Infrastructure Private limited for issuing an NOC for conversion of 46 acres of land in Kannamangala and Pujanahalli of Devanahalli taluk of Bangalore Rural district.

Mr. George paid Venkatesh an advance of Rs. 50,000. He was asked to pay the remaining amount at a hotel on Friday evening. Mr. George informed the Lokayukta sleuths about Venkatesh's demand.

The Lokayukta sleuths caught Venkatesh soon after he accepted the cash. Venkatesh was produced before a city sessions judge, who remanded him in judicial custody.

The Lokayukta police have registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Lokayukta Santosh Hegde said the amount recovered from Venkatesh was the highest amount recovered from an official who was caught by the Lokayukta police. Three years ago, S.Y. Jawadagi, Deputy Inspector-General (Administration and Law) in the Stamps and Registration Department, was caught allegedly accepting Rs. 1 lakh.

Panchayat officials caught

The Bangalore Lokayuta police on Saturday reportedly found Rajendra, Secretary of Basavanapura Panchayat, and three other officials of the panchayat, with money allegedly collected as bribe from residents of an apartment complex on Bannerghatta Road.

Upa Lokayukta G. Patri Basavana Goud received information that Rajendra and three of his subordinates were allegedly collecting bribe from 330 residents while collecting house tax. The amount collected by the four reportedly ranged between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000.

Mr. Goud took suo motu notice of the information and asked Inspector V. Shekar to investigate the matter. Mr. Shekar made a surprise visit and found the four possessing Rs. 65,760, which was in excess to the house tax collected by them. Mr. Goud is awaiting for a report from Mr. Shekar for initiating action under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act.

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