Bangalore: Cong corporator gets 4 yrs RI for taking bribe

Bangalore, Nov 28: Two years after being caught red-handed while taking money from a builder, a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) corporator L Govindaraju was sentenced today to four years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 40,000.

The sentencing of the BBMP corporator by the special court of Lokayukta comes at a time when many politicians are facing heat due to corruption charges. Rampant corruption at the grassroots level is the most worrying factor and this verdict could come as a relief to the common man.

Govindaraju had taken Rs 2 lakh from a builder whose construction activities were halted on the allegations of violation of building bylaws. Builder Udaykumar was told to pay Rs 8 lakh as bribe by Govindaraju to resume the building construction.

Later, it was reduced to Rs 5 lakh and Udaykumar paid Rs 2 lakh. Not satisfied, the corporator allegedly pestered the builder to pay the remaining Rs 3 lakh.

Harassed by the demands, Udaykumar approached Karnataka Lokayukta and the corporator was caught red-handed while accepting extortion-cum-bribery amount on Jul 17, 2010.

The Ganesh Mandir ward corporator is a Congress member. His lawyer plans to appeal against the judgement in the Karnataka High Court.

OneIndia News