Assistant director gets 4-yr jail term in bribery case

Mangaluru: Third additional district and sessions Judge BB Jakati sentenced assistant director of factories, boilers, industrial safety and health Suresh H to four years of simple imprisonment, for misusing power and collecting bribes from owners of industries, on Saturday. The court has slapped a fine of Rs 4 lakh on him.
Presently, Suresh is serving in Mysuru. He was caught red-handed by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials, along with cash in 2016. The judge, in his order, has asked him to undergo six months of simple imprisonment, if he fails to pay the fine.
Lokayukta SP K Lakshmi Ganesh said that the accused was demanding bribes for licences for industries, renewal of licences, and issuing no-objection certificates to industry owners.
Accordingly, a complaint was registered with the ACB,and the sleuths raided his office on November 30, 2016. During the raid, officials found Rs 3.5 lakh in his possession. Then ACB inspector Yogish Kumar filed a chargesheet before the court. Special public prosecutor for Lokayukta, Raveendra Munnippady, argued on behalf of the government.