Bengaluru, 29 July (H.S.): The Karnataka Lokayukta Police have arrested a District Health and Family Welfare Department official in Yadgir district for allegedly accepting a ₹20,000 bribe through a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transaction in exchange for releasing a government incentive under the National Quality Assurance Programme (NQAP).

The accused has been identified as Shrikant Bhavimani, Administrative and Programme Assistant in the District Health and Family Welfare Department. According to the Lokayukta Police, he allegedly demanded a commission from a beneficiary before processing the release of incentive funds sanctioned under the Central government's quality assurance programme.

The complainant, Parameshwar Jamadar (39), a farmer from Chitali village in Aland taluk of Kalaburagi district, approached the Lokayukta after alleging that the official demanded 20 per cent of the sanctioned incentive amount as illegal gratification. Jamadar had been approved to receive an incentive of ₹1,39,750 under the National Quality Assurance Programme, but claimed the payment was being withheld until the bribe was paid.

Acting on the complaint, the Karnataka Lokayukta Police registered Crime No. 07/2026 on July 27 under Section 7(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. Investigators subsequently planned a trap operation to verify the allegations.

During the operation, Bhavimani allegedly accepted ₹20,000 through a UPI transaction, after which Lokayukta officials immediately apprehended him. The successful trap highlights the growing use of digital payment evidence in corruption investigations, with authorities increasingly monitoring electronic transactions alongside conventional methods.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Siddaraju C. It was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police J.H. Inamdar, with Police Inspector Siddaraya Balurgi and other Lokayukta personnel participating in the raid.

Further investigation is underway to determine whether similar demands were made from other beneficiaries under the programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman