Shivamogga: The Lokayukta Police on Monday arrested the principal of a government residential school in Shivamogga district after allegedly catching him red-handed while accepting a ₹10,000 bribe for admitting a student to Class 7.
The accused has been identified as Namdev, principal of the Kittur Rani Chennamma Residential School in Hunasekatte village of Bhadravathi taluk.
According to the Lokayukta, the complainant, Megharaj C (35), alleged that the principal had initially demanded ₹20,000, claiming the money was required to purchase a drum set for the school, in return for admitting his daughter.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, Megharaj approached the Shivamogga Lokayukta Police on July 18 and lodged a complaint.
Principal trapped during operation
Based on the complaint, the Lokayukta registered a case under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.
During a trap operation conducted at around 12.20 pm on Monday, Lokayukta officials allegedly caught Namdev accepting ₹10,000 from the complainant inside his office at the school. The tainted currency notes were seized during the operation.
The accused was taken into custody for questioning, and further investigation is underway.
Investigation continues
The investigation is being led by K P Rudresh, Police Inspector of the Shivamogga Lokayukta Police Station.
The trap was carried out under the supervision of M S Kaulapure, Superintendent of Police, Lokayukta, and was led by B P Chandrashekhar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, with assistance from Lokayukta personnel.