Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 28: The third district and sessions court here, which has also been designated as special court for Lokayukta cases, has found that the charges of accepting bribe levelled against a forest guard at Veerakamba in Bantwal taluk were proved.

Forest guard, Manoj, had demanded payment of Rs 5,000 by way of bribe from Mustafa, owner of a tempo that was carrying firewood, on July 23, 2012. Mustafa had complained to the Lokayukta. The Lokayukta police then trapped Manoj and Lokayukta inspector, Dileep Kumar, arrested him when accepting bribe after laying a trap.

In a judgement delivered on November 27, judge of the court B Muraleedhar Pai, handed down a year's simple imprisonment and Rs 10,000 fine for offences under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and a year of simple imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000 under section 13 (1) of the said act. The court also ordered to undergo three additional months of imprisonment in case of failure to pay fine.

The then Lokayukta inspector Dileep Kumar, had investigated the case and filed charge sheet. Special public prosecutor, K S N Rajesh, appeared on behalf of the Lokayukta.