Two officials from the Karnataka drugs control department have been caught by the Lokayukta, the vigilance authority and an anti-corruption ombudsman organisation appointed by the state governments across the country. The officials under the Lokayukta net are Assistant drug controller C Kumar and drug inspector Vishalakshi.
While the former was caught for the second time by Lokayukta cops while he was accepting bribe through his agent from a practising doctor in Bengaluru, the latter was also caught accepting Rs.4,000.
Lokayukta additional director general HNS Rao said the drugs control department assistant controller Kumar was also arrested in 2009 while he was serving in Raichur and a chargesheet was filed against him in 2010. The court has reserved its order in the case.
According to sources, the officials from the state drugs control department like C Kumar used to collect monthly bribe from medical stores. When some store owners refuse to pay up, they are slapped with official notices warning that their licenses would be scrapped.
One such notice was sent to Dr KP Gopinath of Puja Clinic, HSR Layout in Bengaluru who also runs a medical store next to his clinic. The doctor refused to pay bribe.
"In order to withdraw notice of drug license cancellation, Kumar demanded Rs.20,000. The doctor approached Lokayukta police. Kumar's agent Satya was receiving the amount when he was caught near the drug store. He had Rs.45,000 in his possession and when questioned did not give any explanation," Rao said.