Lokayukta traps ASI taking bribe for station bail

Mandya: Lokayukta police trapped and arrested an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) attached to Malavalli Rural police station while he was allegedly accepting a bribe to grant station bail to an accused person late Wednesday.According to Lokayukta officials, ASI Shivakumar allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 from Rajegowda, a Malavalli resident, promising to settle a case registered against him following a local altercation and secure his release on station bail.Unwilling to pay the bribe, Rajegowda approached the Lokayukta police and lodged a formal complaint. He also submitted an audio recording of a phone conversation in which the ASI allegedly demanded the money.Acting on the complaint, Lokayukta officials laid a trap and caught the ASI. The operation was carried out under the supervision of Lokayukta SP S Sureshbabu by DSP Sunil Kumar, inspectors Lepakshamurthy and Byatarayagowda, along with other personnel.The ASI was taken into custody, and further investigation is under way.