The action was taken after a complaint alleged that the OSD demanded a bribe from him for issuing a No Objection Certificate to DR Developers for an electricity connection sanction.
Published Oct 06, 2025 | 9:51 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 06, 2025 | 9:51 AM
Indian money. (iStock)
Synopsis: The Karnataka Lokayukta Police arrested Jyothi Prakash, an Officer on Special Duty to Karnataka Energy Minister KJ George, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe. He was arrested along with his driver
The Karnataka Lokayukta Police arrested Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) Engineer Jyothi Prakash, who is also Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Karnataka Energy Minister KJ George, on the evening of Saturday, 5 October, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe.
The action was taken after a complaint by Anantharaju KM, a resident of Byadarahalli in the Mandya district, who alleged that the OSD demanded a bribe from him for issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to DR Developers for an electricity connection sanction.
The OSD allegedly asked for a bribe of ₹1 lakh and agreed to settle at ₹50,000. Lokayukta officials laid a trap and caught the OSD and his driver, Naveen M, in the alleged bribery case.
“The accused had initially demanded ₹1 lakh but agreed to settle for ₹50,000. He was caught while accepting the advance amount,” the Lokayukta said in a statement.
Both have been taken into custody, and a case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Recently, the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association (KSCA) had written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, alleging that corruption under the Congress-led government has doubled compared with the previous BJP government.
In 2023, KSCA had levelled the infamous “40 percent commission” allegations against the then Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government — a charge vehemently denied by the saffron party — and one widely attributed to have been a major factor in its defeat in that year’s Assembly elections.
In a scathing letter dated 25 September, the same association alleged that the commission has now doubled under Siddaramaiah’s government.
For months, KSCA has been urging the Congress government to clear pending bills worth over ₹32,000 crore. In May 2025, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar assured that the dues would be cleared within two months. However, KSCA alleged in its recent letter that they have yet to benefit from the government despite multiple assurances.
(With inputs from Anisha Reddy.)
