BEO in Lokayukta net for graft

Haveri: On Saturday, Lokayukta officials caught a Block Education Officer (BEO) from Haveri while accepting a Rs 15,000 bribe. BEO Mounesh Badiger demanded Rs 50,000 from primary school teacher Pratap Barki to approve the release of his three months' salary. Mounesh was caught while accepting the first instalment of the demanded amount.Pratap Barki, who was suspended and later rejoined another school, had three months of unpaid salary pending from the department. When he approached the BEO regarding his pending salary payment, Badiger demanded Rs 50,000. Subsequently, Barki contacted Lokayukta police and filed an FIR against the BEO under the PC Act 1988 (amended Act 2018).Under the guidance of Lokayukta DySP Madhusudan, an operation was conducted that led to Mounesh's arrest at his residence in Basaveshwar Nagar, Haveri, while accepting the bribe. BEO's car driver, Papanna Lamani, was also arrested. However, another teacher, who acted as an intermediary, fled the scene."We will produce the accused before the court," said Lokayukta DySP.