A tehsildar in Karnataka's Dharwad district was allegedly caught accepting Rs 50 lakh in cash, Lokayukta SP Siddalingappa said late on Wednesday night.
The operation was conducted following a complaint by a developer concerning the correction of land records and the execution of podi, or land sub-division, at Yarikoppa in Dharwad taluk.
According to the Lokayukta, tehsildar Sachidananda Kuchanur had allegedly demanded one acre of land along with Rs 50 lakh in cash in exchange for carrying out the rectification. “So, when he was supposed to receive Rs 50 lakh cash today, we trapped him,” Siddalingappa said.
The Lokayukta SP said the developer had acquired around 33 acres in Yarikoppa and wanted the land records corrected to properly reflect the cultivable and 'kharab' portions.
Siddalingappa said the Joint Director of Land Records had previously ordered the cancellation of the earlier podi and instructed officials to conduct a fresh sub-division. Subsequently, the Assistant Director of Land Records sent a proposal to the tehsildar seeking rectification and sub-division of the property.
The complaint was filed on Wednesday afternoon, following which the Lokayukta registered a case and organised a trap. Kuchanur had instructed the complainant to meet him near KCD Ground, where he said he would collect the cash.
“The cash was in a red-coloured bag,” Siddalingappa said. The complainant handed the bag to the tehsildar, who placed it inside his own bag. Lokayukta officials then caught him.
Siddalingappa said further steps, including a possible search of Kuchanur's premises, would be determined at a later stage.
