Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP) 

Bengaluru, Jan 9: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested S J Mohan Kumar, contract employee working in the office of minister, Puttaranga Shetty, who was caught with a bag containing unaccounted cash of Rs 25.76 lac in Vidhana Soudha premises by the security staff. 

It has come to light that Mohan had worked with five different ministers in the past. They were Roshan Baig, C C Patil, Chennigappa, Umashree and C T Ravi. The officials found that he has been working for different ministers since 2006. 

S J Mohan Kumar

In his confession to Vidhana Soudha police who undertook preliminary investigation, Mohan gave names of ministers for whom he had worked in the past. It is said that he also spoke about the connection an employee in the office of a minister identified as Krishnamurthy has with the money. He told the investigators that he works in the office of C Puttaranga Shetty, minister for backward classes welfare, as Kannada typist. He revealed that after 5 pm, he works as electrical sub-contractor. 

ACB has registered case against Mohan Kumar, Anantu, Nanda, Shreenidhi, Krishnamurthy, Manju and some others, under sections 7 and 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act. The officials are continuing with investigation. Out of them, Krishnamurthy is said to be currently working as personal assistant of a minister. 

A team of ACB officials conducted search in the office of minister, Puttaranga Shetty, on Tuesday and put together information. They also took into possession CCTV footage of places like gate of MLA’s hostel, and metro station, where Mohan Kumar reportedly collected the money recovered now. 

An ACB officer said that cell phone, debit card and credit card possessed by Mohan Kumar had been seized. The officials say they are yet to get information about the purpose for which Mohan Kumar collected money, background of other accused etc. Verification of CDR of Mohan Kumar's phone is expected to help in further investigation, he added. 

It is said that Mohan confessed that he collected Rs 25.76 lac from different persons from difference places and was moving to hand over the bag containing the money to minister, Puttaranga Shetty, in order to bribe the minster and influence him to take favourable decisions for the contractors who paid this money, when police nabbed him. This statement, officials think, might put the minister in a piquant situation.