Bribe Scandal: State Information Commissioner Arrested for Corruption

State Information Commissioner Ravindra Gurunath Dhakappa was arrested for accepting a Rs 1 lakh bribe to deliver a favorable order. The arrest followed a complaint by RTI activist Saibanna Benakanhalli, who alleged a demand for Rs 3 lakh to remove his blacklist status. Further investigations are underway.

The Lokayukta police arrested State Information Commissioner Ravindra Gurunath Dhakappa for allegedly accepting a Rs 1 lakh bribe. The arrest stems from a complaint by RTI activist Saibanna Benakanhalli.

Benakanhalli claimed that Dhakappa demanded Rs 3 lakh to remove his name from a blacklist. This complaint arose after the activist's 107 RTI petitions seeking information from various government offices were dismissed by the Kalaburagi Bench.

Following negotiations, Dhakappa allegedly accepted Rs 1 lakh through PhonePe. He is now in custody as the investigation continues.

(With inputs from agencies.)