Promotion officer in Lokayukta net

Mangalore, Aug 13: An officer working in the District Small Scale Industries Office, landed in the Lokayukta net when he was caught red-handed by sleuths while accepting a bribe here on Tuesday.

Vaman Nayak, Small-scale Industrial Promotion officer at the District Industrial Centre, was arrested by the Lokayukta police at Yeyyadi, after he was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 4000 from complainant Jagadish, owner of a small-scale industry.

The team of Lokayukta police laid a trap after Jagadish informed them of the alleged bribe demand by Vaman Nayak.

Jagadish, who owns a small-scale hollow block industry at Kalladka, was assured a subsidy of 15 per cent offered by the government.

According to Lokayukta inspector Umesh G Shet, accused Vaman Nayak had demanded a bribe of Rs 7000 from Jagadish for handing over the approval letter for the subsidy grant. Jagadish and Vaman Nayak finally settled on a sum of Rs 4000, which the former was asked to hand over on Tuesday.

After informing the Lokayukta police, the team of sleuths laid a trap and caught the erring officer red-handed, he said.

The accused will be produced before the Court on Tuesday, and will be booked under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, said the inspector.