Digital Trail to Justice: Upa Lokayukta Cracks Down on Bribe-Taking Officials Using Payment Apps

Bengaluru: In a bold and tech-driven move to combat corruption, Karnataka’s Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa has introduced a groundbreaking strategy to catch government officials accepting bribes through digital platforms like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm. Aware of the growing trend of digital bribery, Justice Veerappa has begun conducting surprise inspections across districts with a dedicated team of technical experts. These experts are tasked with reinstalling uninstalled apps and scanning transaction histories to detect suspicious money transfers during the raids. His secretary, Aravind N V, has been instrumental in coordinating these high-stakes operations.

The impact of this initiative was starkly evident during a surprise raid in Mandya district, where nearly 500 government officials were found to have deleted digital payment apps from their phones, hoping to erase evidence. However, the swift action by the technical team not only restored these apps but also exposed hefty financial transactions directed to the accounts of friends and relatives—clear indicators of bribe money being routed indirectly. This innovative approach signals a major leap in the state’s anti-corruption campaign, showcasing how technology can be wielded effectively to uphold accountability and transparency in public administration.