In a bold anti-corruption crackdown that underscores Karnataka's zero-tolerance policy toward graft, Lokayukta officials executed a meticulously planned sting operation that led to the dramatic arrest of a MESCOM junior engineer red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹40,000 in Chikkamagaluru.
The accused, identified as Ramesh B.S., a junior engineer stationed at the Koppa subdivision of Mysore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM), was apprehended at his residence on Thursday evening while pocketing the illicit payment. The operation unfolded after a complainant approached Lokayukta authorities alleging that the engineer was demanding bribes to perform his official duties.
The Sting Operation Unfolds
According to Lokayukta sources, the complainant had approached them with credible evidence that Ramesh was demanding ₹40,000 to process and approve certain electrical works. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, a special team of Lokayukta officials laid an elaborate trap to catch the corrupt official in the act.
The operation was set in motion when the complainant, equipped with marked currency notes and under the surveillance of Lokayukta sleuths, visited the engineer's residence to deliver the demanded bribe amount. The entire transaction was meticulously monitored and recorded by waiting officials who swooped in the moment the money changed hands.
Evidence Collection and Arrest
Following the successful trap, Lokayukta officials recovered the entire ₹40,000 in marked currency notes from Ramesh's possession. The evidence collection process was thorough, with officials documenting every aspect of the illicit transaction to build a watertight case against the accused.
The arrested junior engineer has been booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and was subsequently produced before a special court dealing with anti-corruption cases. The Lokayukta has initiated further investigations to determine if this was an isolated incident or part of a larger corruption network within the power utility department.
Broader Implications
This arrest marks another significant victory for Karnataka's anti-corruption watchdog in its ongoing battle against graft in public service departments. The successful operation sends a strong message to corrupt officials across the state that such illicit activities will not be tolerated.
MESCOM, which supplies electricity to several districts in Karnataka including Chikkamagaluru, has been under scrutiny previously for similar corruption allegations. This latest incident is likely to prompt internal reviews and stricter monitoring mechanisms within the power distribution company.
Local residents and anti-corruption activists have welcomed the arrest, hoping it will deter other officials from engaging in similar corrupt practices that ultimately burden common citizens and undermine public trust in essential services.
