Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD)

Mangalore, Sep 11: Assistant director of the tourism department Jitendranath and computer operater Anusha were caught red-handed by Lokayukta while taking bribe here on Thursday September 11, at Lalbagh City Corporation commercial complex here.

The tourist department offers Rs 2 lacs as financial help for people from the backward classes who want to buy taxis and start their own business. A person from Puttur who did not wish to disclose his name is said to have alerted the Lokayukta after Jitendranath and Anusha demanded bribe while applying under this scheme.

The person had applied for subsidy under the scheme on March 20. As per the procedure he was supposed to get a printed copy of the sanction letter but on September 2, he received a call from a girl stating that she was from the tourism department.

Jitendranath then spoke to him and allegedly demanded Rs 15,000. But when the person refused to pay up as he did not have that much money with him, they reportedly asked him to give Rs 10,000 and then later came down to Rs 7,000. On Wednesday September 10, the person informed the Lokayukta about the bribe, and a plan was hatched to catch the officers.

The Lokayukta police on Thursday arrived at the tourism department and caught Jitendranath and Anusha red-handed accepting Rs 7,000 as bribe and took them into custody.

Sources said that the tourism officer did not touch the notes that were dipped in a special solution, but the complainant had recorded their conversation, which will be considered as evidence. It is said that the girl who had spoken to the complainant over the phone has agreed to give evidence against the officer.

Lokayukta team led by sub-inspector Vijaya Prasad and Dilip Kumar conducted the operation.

Further investigations are on.