‘Bribe for entry’ scam: Advocate seeks probe into alleged ‘monthly payments’ to RTO officials
Advocate S. Nataraja Sharma has filed a formal complaint alleging a systematic bribery scheme involving RTO officials and tourist bus operators in Karnataka. The complaint claims operators pay monthly bribes to avoid detention and facilitate vehicle movement, prompting calls for a vigilance investigation.
Why it matters
This highlights potential systemic corruption within regional transport enforcement agencies, impacting interstate commerce and regulatory integrity.
Advocate S. Nataraja Sharma has lodged a complaint with the Karnataka Transport Commissioner alleging a systematic collection of monthly bribes from Keralam-registered tourist bus operators to facilitate the movement of their vehicles in Karnataka, and has sought an independent investigation into the alleged involvement of certain Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials and an intermediary identified as “Guru”.
In his complaint dated October 13, Mr. Sharma alleged that bus operators were making monthly payments ranging from ₹16,000 to ₹30,000 per bus through UPI transactions to facilitate the movement of their vehicles through routes and locations including Attibele, Electronic City, Majestic and Devanahalli.
The allegations reportedly emerged during discussions in a WhatsApp group titled ‘Bus Owners of India’. The complaint also refers to an alleged 60:40 arrangement, with 60% reportedly attributed to tax and 40% allegedly collected as a bribe. These claims are yet to be independently verified.
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