The Shiv Sena State president, Siddalinga Swami of Andola Mutt, has leveled serious allegations against both the Lokayukta and the Police department. He claims they are actively shielding police officials who were caught accepting a substantial bribe of ₹10 lakh on August 29. The bribe was reportedly for settling a civil dispute.
According to Swami, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sharanabasappa Subedar of Kalaburagi South Sub-division, along with police writer Chandrakant, police constable Raghavendra, and two other individuals, were apprehended by the Lokayukta on the night of August 29. They were interrogated throughout the night, but were allegedly released due to political pressure.
During a press conference held on Monday, Siddalinga Swami asserted that the Lokayukta’s investigation into the matter has been botched. He accused both the Lokayukta and the Police of attempting to protect the implicated officers by withholding crucial information from the public. Swami expressed shock that authorities have even denied the incident took place.
Challenging political leaders and senior police officials whom he believes are providing cover for the accused, Swami questioned why the implicated officers – ACP Sharanabasappa Subedar and the two police constables – sought bail from the Principal Sessions Court if no such incident occurred. Their bail plea, he highlighted, was ultimately rejected.
Presenting supporting documents, Swami noted that Principal Sessions Judge G.L. Lakshminarayana rejected the bail application of the accused policemen on September 8. In a scathing rebuke, Judge Lakshminarayana criticized the Police Department, stating that while police are entrusted with safeguarding ordinary citizens, police stations have unfortunately devolved into ‘commercial business hubs and dens of corrupt activities.’ This distressing situation, the judge remarked, has caused the public to lose faith in the system and become reluctant to seek resolution for their grievances at police stations.
Further details revealed that on July 2, a middleman named Dastagir accepted a ₹1.5 lakh bribe from the complainant, Revansiddayya. Subsequently, on August 29, the complainant delivered ₹10 lakh as an initial installment to ACP Sharanabasappa Subedar’s office, with a promise to pay the remaining ₹30 lakh later. It was during this transaction that the police officer was caught in the act of receiving the bribe.