OSD to Energy Minister held while taking ₹50,000 bribe in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Lokayukta police on Saturday arrested Jyothi Prakash, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Karnataka Energy Minister K. J. George, while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹50,000 in exchange for an official favour.

Prakash, who also serves as an Executive Engineer with Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL), was caught alongside his driver, Naveen M., a contract employee, during a trap laid by Lokayukta officials.

According to investigators, the officer had demanded ₹1 lakh from one Ananthraju to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) required for sanctioning an electricity connection.

Unable to pay the bribe, Ananthraju lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta, prompting a surveillance operation that culminated in the arrest.

Both Prakash and Naveen have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.