Staff say the five divisions have only decentralised corruption
Months after a divisional controller (DC) of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) was trapped by the Lokayukta police while accepting a bribe, the driver of another DC was trapped while allegedly collecting a bribe on behalf of his superior here on Friday.
A press release from the Lokayukta police said Rayagondappa, a BMTC driver, contacted them two days ago with a complaint that DC (East Division) H.S. Mallikarjunaiah had demanded a Rs. 5,000-bribe for his transfer and to close a departmental inquiry.
Registering the complaint, the police laid a trap for the officer and Puttaiah, his driver, was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe on his behalf on Friday.
Police Inspector Puttaswamy conducted the trap under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police S. Girish and Superintendent of Police P.K. Shivashankar. The Lokayukta police, since then, have been searching Mr. Mallikarjunaiah's residence.
Last-minute takings
About three months ago, the Lokayukta police caught DC (West) Venkataramanappa red-handed accepting a Rs. 3,000-bribe from a driver seeking a transfer. While Venkataramanappa, who himself was transferred, accepted the bribe on his last working day, Mr. Mallikarjunaiah, BMTC sources said, was about to be transferred in a day or two.
BMTC had introduced a three-tier system and created five divisions to increase efficiency in administration about two years ago. However, instead of increasing efficiency and improving performance, the divisions have facilitated decentralisation of corruption, according to lower-level staff.
Following this, about two months ago, BMTC transferred three of the four DCs against whom there were complaints, even as Mr. Mallikarjunaiah had managed to stay on, sources told The Hindu. Asked if Mr. Mallikarjunaiah would be suspended, BMTC Managing Director K.R. Srinivasa told The Hindu it was bound to happen.
PSI trapped
Meanwhile, the Lokayukta police caught Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Shivamada, attached to Adugodi police station here, red-handed while he was accepting a Rs. 15,000-bribe from the complainant for the release of his brother who was in police custody in connection with a theft case.
Lokayukta police Inspectors V. Anil Kumar and Nagaraj laid the trap on Friday on the complaint of Sheikh Abdulla, who said the PSI had initially demanded Rs. 20,000 for the release of his brother but settled for Rs. 15,000. During the trap, one Tajuddin, who assisted the PSI in collecting the bribe, too was caught, the press release said.
Keywords: BMTC employee, bribery charge
