BMTC driver’s death: 8 BMTC officials suspended; 2 transferred for taking bribes

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Ten officials of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) came under the radar following bribery allegations against them. A departmental inquiry had been initiated within the BMTC after a bus driver, Holebasappa Chinchankandi, 48, from the Channasandra depot, allegedly committed suicide at the Rajarajeshwari Nagar depot.

A note written by him was recovered from the spot, which allegedly carried the name of the 21st depot manager of RR Nagar, Mallikarjunaiah. Following an inquiry, it was found that the bus drivers and conductors had to pay bribes to be assigned their duties by the senior officials.

It was alleged that the senior officials used to demand Rs 200 per week or Rs 2000 per month from the bus drivers and conductors. A detailed inquiry was carried out, and based on the statements from the workers and officials, it was revealed that Holebasappa had refused to pay bribes to the depot manager due to which he was not assigned duty.

Depressed of this, the bus driver had allegedly committed suicide mentioning the depot manager’s name in his death note. An investigation was initiated by the BMTC Security and Vigilance Head, G Radhika. Based on complaints and statements by the transport employees, eight officials were suspended who were alleged to be involved in collecting bribes through UPI applications.

The suspended officials include Ramesh, depot-8 constable (received Rs 51,630); Mohammed Rafi, staff supervisor, depot-8 (received Rs 20,600); KS Chandran, junior assistant, depot-8 (Rs 7,28,045); Ibrahim Zabiullah, constable depot-8 (Rs 46,631); Govardhan HM, driver, depot-8 (Rs 3,15,182); K Saravana, statistical assistant, depot-8 (Rs 64,500); Shravan Kumar Satapati, Divisional Security Superintendent (Security BMTC) was allegedly involved in corruption and extortion of money from drivers and conductors; Pankaja, KR Market, assistant superintendent, was caught while allegedly accepting Rs 3000 in cash, according to media reports.

Divisional Controller, Chandrashekhar has been reportedly transferred to Kalaburagi transport welfare while his colleague Jagadish was transferred to Ramanagara KSRTC division. A further probe is underway, and more suspensions might follow, BMTC sources said.