Another FIR filed against ‘Extortion Kingpin’ Sharanappa; Contractors expose Bengaluru power scam network

Fresh complaint at Basaveshwaranagar police station as electrical contractors reveal how Sharanappa’s gang used fear, fake videos and Lokayukta names to extort money.

Bengaluru’s alleged extortion racket involving electrical contractor Sharanappa Kurabanala has deepened further with the registration of another FIR, based on fresh complaints from contractors who claim they were harassed and forced to pay money.

The latest FIR has been registered at Basaveshwaranagar police station after contractors gathered detailed information and approached the police with specific allegations against Sharanappa and his close associates. The complaint states that Sharanappa ran an organised extortion operation targeting electrical contractors and government officials.

According to the allegations, Sharanappa was supported by two key associates, Raghu Raj, a former BESCOM case worker, and Raghunandan, the owner of Voltage Way. The trio allegedly worked together, planning extortion operations and sharing the money collected.

Contractors have accused Raghu Raj of providing inside information about officials who were vulnerable to pressure or payments. Raghunandan is said to have handled planning and logistics, while both Raghu Raj and Raghunandan allegedly recorded videos of officials during payment exchanges. These videos were later used by Sharanappa to threaten and extort more money.

Also Read:NEWSFIRST IMPACT: Lokayukta registers FIR against contractor Sharanappa Kurabanala after NewsFirst expose

The gang allegedly misused the names of senior Lokayukta officials and top BESCOM officers to intimidate victims. Contractors claim they were threatened with arrests and false cases if they refused to pay. The extorted money, as per the complaint, was later divided among the three accused.

The expose gained momentum after NewsFirst aired a detailed investigation into Sharanappa’s activities on October 27 and October 30. Following the broadcast, contractors filed formal complaints with the Lokayukta, prompting officials to initiate action.

Earlier, the Lokayukta had registered an FIR against Sharanappa Kurabanala at Vidhana Soudha police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 Sections 308(2) and 308(3), after reviewing NewsFirst’s investigation and the complaints received.

Sharanappa, originally from Kushtagi in Koppal district, runs Sri Siddaganga Electrical Enterprises and Siddaganga Enterprises. Though he once assisted the Lokayukta in exposing corrupt BESCOM officials, investigators say he later turned that association into a tool for intimidation.

Also Read:Contractor Sharanappa Kurabanala exposed for using Lokayukta officers’ names to extort crores

Investigations have revealed that Sharanappa allegedly collected over ₹10 crore through extortion. The money was reportedly invested in the stock market and diverted in the name of donations to mutts such as Suttur Mutt, Siddaganga Mutt and Kunduru Mutt, under the pretext of helping poor students.

The racket was exposed after two men, Lokesh and Ramesh, posed as a contractor and a lineman and secretly recorded Sharanappa demanding money while boasting of his influence over Lokayukta officials.

With another FIR now registered and both police and Lokayukta investigations continuing, the Sharanappa extortion case is emerging as one of the most serious contractor-led intimidation scandals in Bengaluru’s power sector in recent years.