The Karnataka Lokayukta officials have arrested Ashok Shiroor, Executive Engineer of the Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Belagavi Division, for allegedly accepting a ₹1 lakh bribe to issue a compensation cheque linked to a government land acquisition.
As per a complaint lodged on October 17, 2025, with Lokayukta PI Niranjan Patil, the accused had allegedly demanded ₹1 lakh from Yasin Pendhari of Khemalpur village, Raybag taluk, for releasing a government cheque of ₹18 lakh. The amount was sanctioned as compensation for the acquisition of 14 gunta of land for a drinking water project under the Amrutha scheme.
Acting on the complaint and investigation registered under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Lokayukta team, led by SP Hanamantharaya and PI Niranjan Patil, arrested Shiroor at his office on October 27, 2025. The operation was carried out by PI Patil and his staff.
