Complaint lodged with Lokayukta over bribery, involvement of middlemen at APMC

BENGALURU: The Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) has been marred with allegations of bribery and middlemen running amok. An individual, Arun Parameshwara, has lodged a complaint with Karnataka Lokayukta, accusing officials of demanding hefty bribes through brokers.

Traders are forced to go through middlemen to get work done, with officials allegedly refusing to deal directly. The complaint claims there’s a rate card for bribes, with amounts ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 for NoC renewal, and a staggering Rs 5 lakh bribe demanded by officials and brokers, he told Public TV.

Arun has offered to provide evidence to the Lokayukta and urged the Chief Minister to take action against the corrupt officials.