Bengaluru’s law enforcement fraternity was rocked today as Lokayukta sleuths arrested KP Agrahara police inspector Govindaraju in a dramatic Rs 4 lakh bribery sting. The catch, captured on video that’s now gone viral, highlights the ugly underbelly of corruption in chit fund probes.
Working a case under the 2019 Unregulated Deposit Schemes law, Govindaraju sought to exploit a complainant’s desperation. For Rs 5 lakh total, he promised to scrub Akbar’s name from the fraud FIR. An initial Rs 1 lakh was taken on January 24; the rest was due at CAR Grounds on Mysore Road.
SP Shivaprakash Devraj of Lokayukta recounted the operation: ‘The trap was flawless. He grabbed the cash right before our eyes.’ But the aftermath was anything but smooth. Enraged at being caught, Govindaraju lashed out, requiring a team of six officers to restrain him amid screams and scuffles.
Footage from the arrest attempt earlier shows the accused resisting at the plot, citing no prior notice and threatening lawyer intervention. Back at the station, the deal soured into a trap. Police summoned a Hoysala patrol to haul him in, only for the inspector to demand hush money.
Now in judicial custody under PC Act provisions, Govindaraju’s fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale. The incident has sparked public outrage and calls for deeper probes into station-level graft. Lokayukta vows more such operations to root out bribery in Bengaluru’s precincts.
As videos flood social media, the focus shifts to systemic reforms. Will this expose lead to broader accountability in Karnataka policing?
