Bengaluru: A major corruption scandal has rocked the state’s Energy Department, as Jyothi Prakash, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Energy Minister and Executive Engineer with KPTCL (Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited), was caught red-handed by the Lokayukta while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh.
According to sources, the accused officer had demanded the bribe from a contractor in exchange for granting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) related to a departmental project. Acting on a complaint, the Lokayukta’s anti-corruption team set up a trap and apprehended Jyothi Prakash while he was accepting the advance amount.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of senior Lokayukta officials in Bengaluru, and the officer was immediately taken into custody for questioning. Officials have also begun collecting documents and electronic evidence related to the alleged bribery case.
Preliminary reports suggest that the bribe was sought as a precondition for processing an official clearance, and the Lokayukta has initiated a full-fledged investigation to trace other possible links within the department.
The incident has caused embarrassment for the Energy Ministry, as the accused was directly attached to the Minister’s office in a key advisory role. The Lokayukta is expected to file a detailed charge sheet after completing the inquiry.
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