Major Extortion Racket Uncovered on Bidar Highway
In a significant crackdown, the Karnataka Lokayukta has exposed an elaborate illegal checkpost and extortion operation allegedly run by officials from the state transport department in collusion with private individuals. The racket was operational on the Humnabad Ring Road in Bidar district and is suspected to have caused losses worth crores of rupees to the government exchequer.
Based on its findings, the Lokayukta police have formally registered a case at the Humnabad police station. The investigation revealed that an unauthorised checkpost was set up using vehicles from the transport department itself. At this post, money was illegally collected from motorists instead of the legitimate government transport taxes.
How the Illegal Operation Worked
According to the First Information Report (FIR), officials from the transport department teamed up with two private individuals to systematically extort money from drivers and vehicle owners. This illicit activity led to significant financial losses for the government.
The FIR has named Omkara Ladvanti as the first accused, an unidentified person as the second accused, and the implicated transport department officials collectively as the third accused. The Lokayukta found that drivers were coerced into paying money, with those refusing allegedly facing threats of vehicle seizure and harassment.
A disturbing detail from the complaint states that private individuals were hired by the transport officials and paid Rs 300 per day to work in shifts at this illegal checkpost on the Hyderabad National Highway. They were reportedly acting under official instructions.
Seizure and Official Response
During the investigation, Lokayukta officials conducted a search operation. Following this, the illegal shed used for the operation was dismantled. Authorities also seized a vehicle bearing registration number KA39 G9999, which belongs to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) department. This vehicle was found in the possession of the private individual, Omkara.
A case has been registered under multiple sections: 60(a), 204, 318(4), 319(2), 308(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway.
Responding to the allegations, Bidar RTO GK Biradar offered an explanation. He stated that a transport department shed had previously existed on the ring road and a scrap departmental jeep was parked there to prevent encroachment. After the ring road's construction, inspectors and staff were deployed to check vehicles travelling from Hyderabad to Kalaburagi.
"If any inspector or staff member was found to have illegally collected money, strict action should be taken against them," Biradar said. According to his account, three inspectors worked per shift on the ring road.
