Kalaburagi panchayat secretary held for bribe in property transfer case

The Lokayukta police in Kalaburagi arrested a gram panchayat secretary on Monday for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹9,950 to process a property transfer application. The accused, identified as Vedang, is the secretary of Hagaraga Gram Panchayat in Kalaburagi district.

According to the complaint filed by Sanjeev, he had applied for the transfer of ownership of an open site at Azadpur village following the death of his maternal uncle, Kishan Pawar. The property fell under the jurisdiction of the Hagaraga Gram Panchayat.

Sanjeev stated that he had submitted all required documents, including the death certificate and stamp papers, to the gram panchayat. However, the secretary allegedly demanded money to complete the transfer process. Unable to comply, Sanjeev lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta.

Acting on the complaint, Lokayukta officials laid a trap and caught Vedang red-handed while he was accepting the bribe amount. The entire operation was conducted under the supervision of senior officials, and a case has been registered against the accused.

The arrest highlights the continuing efforts of the Lokayukta to curb corruption in government offices, particularly in rural local bodies where citizens often face demands for bribes in routine administrative work. Officials have urged the public to report such instances through the Lokayukta's complaint mechanisms.

Further investigation is underway to determine if the accused was involved in similar corrupt practices in other property-related matters. The authorities have also sought to reassure citizens that strict action will be taken against officials found demanding bribes for public services.