Panchayat development officer nabbed by Lokayukta police while accepting Rs 50k bribe

HAVERI: The panchayat development officer (PDO) of the Teggihalli gram panchayat in Savanur taluk was arrested by the Lokayukta police when he was accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000. The accused was identified as Ashok Gondi.

The PDO had demanded a bribe of Rs 80,000 to approve a bill for Rs 1.6 lakh towards construction of a godown. Ashok was trapped by the Lokayukta police when he was accepting the bribe at a hotel near the new bus stand in Hubballi.

The Haveri Lokayukta police arrested the PDO based on a complaint from a civil contractor who executed the construction of the godown. A case has been registered and Ashok was remanded to judicial custody.