Lokayukta traps Dharwad tahsildar; ₹50 lakh seized

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The Lokayukta Police arrested Dharwad tahsildar Sachchidanand Kachanur, while he was allegedly accepting ₹50 lakh as bribe for rectification of records. He was remanded in 14-day judicial custody by the Lokayukta Special Court in Dharwad on Thursday.

The Lokayukta sleuths had caught Mr. Kachanur red-handed during a late-night trap operation near Karnatak College in Dharwad on Wednesday and he was produced before the court on Thursday, which remanded him in judicial custody till October 1.

According to Lokayukta Police, Mr. Kachanur had allegedly demanded ₹1 crore in two instalments of ₹50 lakh each, besides one acre of land, in connection with changes to the title records of a 33-acre land at Yerikoppa village, located around 12 km from Dharwad on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway.

The landowner, Manjunath of Bagalkot, allegedly approached the Lokayukta police after the demand was made. Acting on his complaint, the officials registered a case and laid a trap. The officials subsequently seized ₹50 lakh in cash during the operation.

The Lokayukta Police is investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged demand, including whether any other persons were involved. The police are also examining documents relating to the mutation and title-transfer process concerning the Yerikoppa property.

Lokayukta officials have described the operation as a major trap involving a serving Revenue Department officer and a substantial cash seizure. Further investigation is on.

Meanwhile speaking to presspersons, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has urged chief minister D.K. Shivakumar to order judicial inquiry into the case. He said that he had information that some Congress leaders were present when the cash was being handed over and alleged that they were sent out from the scene by the sleuths under pressure. He also demanded that a thorough inquiry should be conducted into probe involvement of Congress leaders in the case.

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