A forest department official in Karnataka's Ramanagara district was caught red-handed by Lokayukta officials while accepting a bribe of ₹30,000, according to the trap operation details. That official has been identified as Rajasekhar, who is a Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) in the Ramanagara forest area.
According to the complaint and preliminary details of the operation, Rajasekhar demanded ₹30,000 from a person identified as Santosh Kumar in exchange for granting a permit for the transport of timber. The Lokayukta team acted on the complaint and set up a trap to catch the official while he was receiving the money.
The alleged transaction took place at a private hotel where the officer had agreed to receive the money, the officer said. Lokayukta officials moved in during the transaction and took Rajasekhar into custody for questioning.
The operation was reportedly conducted under the leadership of Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Sneha and Inspector Sandeep. The officials have been reported to have secured the alleged bribe in the trap and launched further investigation into the complaint.
The case concerns an alleged demand for money in exchange for providing an official forest-related permit. Permits and other approvals related to the movement of timber can involve regulatory processes, documentation, and verification by the forest department. In this case, the complainant said he approached Lokayukta after being asked to pay money for the permit.
The Ramanagara Lokayukta office is headed by Superintendent of Police Sneha PV, according to the official district administration website.
This comes at a time of continuing Lokayukta action against allegations of bribery among public officials in Karnataka. In another recent incident, a forest officer in Tumakuru district was also caught by a Lokayukta trap while he received money for official work from officials.
In Ramanagara, officials will now be investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged demand, the communication between the complainant and the accused official, and the circumstances under which the money was purported to be paid. Whether the payment was connected to the issuance of the timber transportation permit will also be the subject of the investigation.
Rajasekhar is currently being questioned by Lokayukta authorities, and more legal action is expected based on the evidence collected during the operation.
The discovery to be in a trap or arrested after an accusation is not an admission of guilt. All allegations will be investigated and due legal process will follow.
The case has drawn attention in Ramanagara as it involves an official of the forest department and an alleged demand for ₹30,000 in connection with a permit. Details about the investigation, the evidence collected, and any formal case registered against the officer will also be disclosed as the Lokayukta inquiry proceeds.
