Tumkur: The Lokayukta police arrested three engineers on Monday for demanding a bribe of ₹1.51 lakh to release a Jal Jeevan Mission Yojana (JJM) work bill.
The accused, Assistant Executive Engineer Umamahesh of the Chikkanayakanahalli Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Sub Division, Engineer Sasikumar (Outsourcing), and Assistant Engineer Kiran, were caught red-handed while accepting the bribe money. The contractor, N.C. Chikkegowda, was forced to pay 6.5% of the total contract amount as a bribe.
Chikkegowda, a contractor from Navile village in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk, had carried out various JJM works, including the construction of an overhead tank and connections in Karehalli, Annekatte, and Cathanayakanahalli villages. The engineers had demanded a bribe of 3%, 2%, and 1.5% of the work bill, respectively.
Following a complaint from Chikkegowda, the Lokayukta police conducted a raid on the Chikkanayakanahalli office and arrested the three engineers. The operation was led by DySPs K.G. Ramakrishna and B. Umashankar, and involved a team of Lokayukta police personnel.