Corruption in Karnataka policing took a hit Friday when Lokayukta officials ensnared KP Agrahara’s Inspector Govindaraju mid-transaction for a Rs 4 lakh bribe linked to a chit fund fraud. The trap at CAR Grounds on Mysore Road marks another victory in the war on graft.
Filed under the 2019 Act prohibiting irregular deposit schemes, the case saw Govindaraju leverage his investigative power. He allegedly haggled with Akbar for Rs 5 lakh to erase his involvement—Rs 1 lakh upfront on January 24, balance on delivery.
SP Shivaprakash Devraj outlined the sting: ‘Caught receiving cash from the complainant at Chamrajpete-adjacent grounds.’ Resistance peaked post-bust; videos capture the officer’s meltdown—yelling, shoving, subdued only by reinforced Lokayukta might.
The saga began with a botched arrest at the plot. The target balked at unannounced action, vowing legal recourse. Station-side arm-twisting birthed the bribe demand, with Hoysala aid securing custody before the payoff trap snapped shut.
Remanded judicially under anti-corruption statutes, Govindaraju faces an uncertain future. This episode, amplified by circulating footage, underscores vulnerabilities in chit fund enforcement and the perils of abusing authority.
Lokayukta’s resolve signals tougher times ahead for bribe-peddling cops. Citizens are empowered to blow the whistle, fostering a cleaner force amid Bengaluru’s bustling justice system.