Tragicomedy in 10 acts

Bangalore: For the first time in Karnataka, an MLA is caught taking bribe. MiD DAY brings you all the action, scene by scene of the trap, the foul-mouthed MLAs and the advocate brigade ...

Act 1: Telephone recording
Hussain Mueen Farook had filed a case against one Nayaaz, who he alleged had forged documents about a site. Nayaaz filed a counter complaint. The police directed Farook to approach KGF MLA Y Sampangi. Sampangi asked Farook for Rs 5 lakh bribe to close the case. Farook recorded the conversation in his mobile phone. Farook then showed the recording to the Lokayukta police, who laid the trap.

Act 2: The Trap
On Thursday at around 1 pm, Farook met Sampangi at the Legislators' House. He paid him Rs 50,000 cash and gave a cheque of Rs 4.5 lakh. Sampangi called the police in KGF and asked them to close the case. The Lokayukta raided and arrested the MLA.

A long road to prison

Act 3: The press conference
Lokayukta justice Santosh Hegde held a press conference at 4 pm. He did not get the MLA out saying he did not want him to be made an exhibit. He requested the press not to click his pictures.

Act 4: The Heart Attack
About 10 supporters of Sampangi came to Lokayukta with an ambulance saying that their leader was having chest pain. They said he was a heart patient and they wanted to take him to the hospital.

Act 5: The advocate brigade
Sampangi asked for an advocate and was provided with not one but many. At first, two advocates came. Then many more came along, but were not let inside. They were sending different law books to the two senior advocates. There were 10 advocates assisting. Meanwhile, the ambulance went back without the MLA.

Act 6: Shown the door
MLC D S Veerayya arrived but was not let in despite him telling them about his position. He then went to the side pretending that he had got a call. He joked about the press taking his photos.

MLA A Renukacharya, who made news after Jayalakshmi, a nurse, accused him of having an illicit affair with her, arrived. He was enraged when he was not let in. He and his followers hit the door with their fists and pushed the door. The constables stood firm. Renukacharya yelled using filthy language, not fit for publication.

Act 7: Hegde meets politicians
The Lokayukta met Veerayya and Renukacharya. Renukacharya again raised his voice and said, "Isn't Sampangi human? Why are you not letting us meet him?" The Lokayukta replied that if he let, people would say it was because Sampangi was from the ruling party. But he later took them to meet Sampangi.

Act 8: Lokayukta asks the press to leave
The Lokayukta asked the press to leave his premises, but got no response. In frustration, he joined his hands and begged them to leave. The police too requested them to leave and accompanied the press out of the premises.

Act 9: Distraction and escape
Renukacharya came out and met the TV channels. He said the Congress had laid the trap to tarnish the BJP's image. While the media were busy with him, Sampangi was taken through the back door so that no one could click his pictures while he was arrested. Sampangi was produced before the magistrate in Koramangala.

Act 10: The Jail
Sampangi was rejected bail, and was sent to Parappana Agrahara jail. He spent the night in jail and will be produced before the magistrate on Friday at 11 pm. The BJP also suspended Sampangi from the party.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jan/300109-KGF-MLA-Y-Sampangi-Caught-Red-handed-10-acts-Lokayuktha-Corruption-Bribe-takers-Bangalore.htm

Fighting graft the SMS way

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is getting around 1,000 calls each day in response to its recently launched SMS campaign against corruption.

Though most of the calls are of frivolous nature but the officers say overall the large number of calls shows active participation by the people in the drive against corruption.

Call me

The agency has provided mobile and land line numbers where people can register their

complaints.

CBI director Ashwani Kumar, calling it a positive use of technology to bring down the corruption cases, said, "Awareness among the public is the best possible way to fight corruption in government offices and now a days almost everyone carries a mobile.

"It is a speedy as well as people friendly measure to tackle the issue," he added.

Awareness drive

The SMS is part of a public awareness campaign launched by the CBI to bring down the cases of bribing and corruption in government offices in National Capital Region (NCR).

"At times it is really difficult to answer each and every call but we are committed for the success of this campaign and we appreciate the people who are calling us," said a senior CBI officer.

Tie-up

"We have tied up with the mobile services providers and the SMS is being sent to almost every mobile. We want to make the people aware that CBI is ready to take up the genuine cases and they can approach us," said a CBI officer.

Successful

The campaign was first launched in Mumbai around six months back and as per records available with the premier investigating agency it was able to register several genuine cases. "So far we have received tremendous success and we are planning to extend this campaign to other states under different CBI zones," said the officer.

Frivolous calls

But on the flip side the agency is quite baffled with the frivolous complaints and the incidents where people are calling with malicious intention only to settle scores.

"A huge number of calls are from the people who want to complain about the bad behaviour of their neighbour or getting fined by the traffic cops. We need people to come forward with serious complaints so that we can plan and set trap to catch the guilty," said the officer.

Free of cost

So far no time limit has been set for the plan and the mobile companies are also providing the service free of cost.

"The basic purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness among the people and we want to make them understand that CBI is there to take up their rightful case," said the agency.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/sep/120908-CBI-sms-drive-corruption-huge-response.htm