Lokayukta traps Constable accepting bribe

The Lokayukta sleuths caught a police constable red-handed for accepting a bribe of Rs. 3,000 from a complainant in return for solving a case.

The accused Prakash, attached to Byappanahalli police station in Bangalore East division had already taken Rs. 20,000 from the complainant, claiming that the money had to be given to the station in-charge and was caught red handed while accepting his share of Rs. 3,000.

The complainant, Ms Praveen, a city based businessman had filed a civil dispute case against K. Shankar Babu. The police without referring the case to the court told Mr. Praveen that they would settle the issue at the station level.

The police summoned Mr. Shankar Babu and asked him to pay a compensation of Rs. 70,000 to Praveen in return of withdrawing case against him.

While Mr. Shankar Babu paid the amount, the accused Prakash gave Rs. 50,000 to Mr. Praveen and kept the remaining Rs. 20,000 stating that he had to give it to the police inspector of the station. In addition Prakash started demanding Mr. Praveen pay him Rs. 5,000 for solving his case and demanded a mobile phone from him.

When Mr. Praveen negotiated, Mr. Prakash agreed for Rs. 4,000 and took Rs.1,000 as advance. Unable to pay the rest of the amount, Mr. Praveen approached the Lokayukta who laid a trap and caught Mr. Prakash red-handed while he was accepting the remaining amount.

The police have booked a case under Prevention of Corrpution Act and remanded him to judicial custody after producing him before the court.