Mysore/Mysuru: An Officer attached to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Mysuru, who tried to play smart by allegedly taking bribe through digital payment on his colleague’s phone, has landed in the net of Lokayukta Police.

Lokesh, Mysuru Rural Officer of FSSAI, is the accused who has been arrested on the charges of collecting a bribe of Rs. 7,000 towards a favour of renewing the licence of a grocery shop. He was arrested at his office in Tilak Nagar here yesterday.

The complainant Raghu owns a wholesale grocery store on Nanjangud-Gundlupet Road, the licence of which is due for renewal in November. However, the accused Lokesh had said it would be difficult to renew the licence after expiry.

He had offered to renew the licence in advance, if his palms were greased and sought a bribe of Rs. 15,000. He was frequently calling Raghu over phone, after settling down to Rs. 7,000 bribe amount.

When Raghu acceded to the demand of Lokesh, the latter who was wary of risk, had hatched a plan. He had told his woman colleague that the PhonePe App on his cell phone has run into some trouble. A person in my knowhow will digitally transfer Rs. 7,000 to your number and give the money later, Lokesh had told his colleague, who was not aware of his plan.

Lokesh had later given the number of his colleague to Raghu, who instantly passed on the information to Lokayukta Police personnel. Yesterday afternoon, Raghu who came near FSSAI office in Tilak Nagar transferred Rs. 7,000 to the given number, following which Lokayukta Policemen swooped on Lokesh and took him to custody. As an evidence, Lokayukta Police have also collected the audio clip containing the conversation between Lokesh and Raghu.

Lokesh had been arrested in a similar case in 2015 too, said Police sources.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Superintendent of Police (SP), Lokayukta Police, Mysuru, Suresh Babu, by a team led by Dy.SP V. Krishnaiah, including Inspectors A. Ravikumar, M. Jayarathna, B.V. Roopashree & Lokesh and other personnel.