Bengaluru court denies bail to tax official in bribery case, cites 50 corrupt govt officials trapped in last 8 months

The Special Court for Lokayukta Cases in Bengaluru has refused bail to Dr. S. Ramanuja, Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Appeals-6), arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹25,000 to waive off a Goods and Services Tax (GST) demand.

50 government officials have been caught in corruption traps

The court noted that more than 50 government officials have been caught in corruption traps in Bengaluru Urban district within the last eight months, reflecting how deeply entrenched unlawful practices are within public offices. It stressed that ordinary citizens are compelled to pay illegal gratification to officials, undermining trust in the system.

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The Lokayukta police registered the case on September 10, 2025, following a complaint from D.H. Guruprasad. His wife, D.G. Gayathri Prasad, had been issued a tax notice demanding ₹2.79 lakh each as SGST and CGST for 2018-19 regarding a cement shop in Sira town. The matter was brought before Ramanuja, who allegedly demanded a ₹75,000 bribe to pass a favourable order, later reducing it to ₹25,000 after the complainant cited financial difficulty.

Ramanuja, however, denied the allegations and claimed innocence. The court, citing objections from the Lokayukta police, highlighted that as a senior officer he could influence witnesses if released on bail. With witness statements yet to be recorded, the court ruled that granting bail at this stage could jeopardise the investigation.

The case underscores ongoing concerns over systemic corruption in state departments.