Mangaluru: Bantwal deputy tahsildar, two others caught by Lokayukta while taking ₹20,000 bribe

Mangaluru: Bantwal deputy tahsildar, two others caught by Lokayukta while taking ₹20,000 bribe

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 14, 2025: A Bantwal taluk office deputy tahsildar was caught red-handed by the Lokayukta police while accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 through a broker to process a “pouthi khata” (inheritance record). Three persons — Deputy Tahsildar Rajesh Naik, First Grade Assistant Santosh, and broker Ganesh from Vamadapadavu — have been taken into custody and a case has been registered.

The trap was laid based on a complaint by Pushparaj from Sajipamunnur. The complainant had applied to the Bantwal taluk office in 2021 for transfer of his late mother’s pouthi khata. After legal proceedings, the District Commissioner’s court had ordered approval of the land grant. Following this, as per the DC court’s order, the Assistant Commissioner’s court had instructed the Bantwal tahsildar to issue the pouthi khata for survey number 102/1 in Sajipamunnur village. However, the file remained pending at the Bantwal tahsildar’s office since April 2025.

When the complainant enquired, case worker Santosh allegedly demanded ₹1,500 for processing, while Deputy Tahsildar Rajesh Naik allegedly asked for ₹20,000 for the tahsildar to approve the khata. The complainant filed a complaint with the Mangaluru Lokayukta police, submitting supporting evidence.

On August 13, 2025, the Lokayukta team caught Rajesh Naik accepting the ₹20,000 bribe through broker Ganesh near a temple in BC Road. All three accused were detained, and investigation is underway, including into the role of the Bantwal tahsildar.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Kumarachandra, Superintendent of Police (in-charge), Karnataka Lokayukta, Mangaluru Division, and led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Dr. Gana P. Kumar, Inspector Suresh Kumar P, Inspectors Bharathi G and Chandrashekhar K.N, along with the Mangaluru Lokayukta staff.