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

Following NewsFirst’s investigative report, Lokayukta officials have filed an FIR against electrical contractor Sharanappa Kurabanala for misusing officer names in a massive extortion racket.

The Lokayukta has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Bengaluru-based electrical contractor Sharanappa Kurabanala, following NewsFirst’s detailed investigation that exposed his extortion racket.

Contractors had filed formal complaints with the Lokayukta soon after NewsFirst aired its investigative reports on October 27 and October 30, revealing how Sharanappa had been misusing the names of senior Lokayukta officials to extort money from officials, engineers, and contractors. After reviewing both the NewsFirst report and the complaint, Lokayukta officers filed an FIR at Vidhana Soudha Police Station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 Sections 308(2) and 308(3).

According to Lokayukta officials, Sharanappa had been posing as a social worker while building an elaborate extortion network, collecting lakhs by falsely claiming close links with top Lokayukta officers. The complaint stated that he even used officer names to threaten arrest and demand bribes from BESCOM engineers and contractors.

Authorities are now preparing to arrest Sharanappa and interrogate him, while also collecting the audio and video evidences. If proven true, Sharanappa faces 2 to 7 years of imprisonment or fine, or both, under BNS provisions.

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

The Extortion Network Uncovered

NewsFirst’s investigation revealed that Sharanappa, originally from Kushtagi in Koppal district, runs Sri Siddaganga Electrical Enterprises and Siddaganga Enterprises. With over three decades in the contracting business, he initially gained trust by helping Lokayukta officials in anti-corruption work, a connection he later twisted into his personal racket.

Using his limited association with a few officers, especially SP Vamshikrishna, he claimed influence over the Lokayukta department and threatened contractors and engineers, extorting over ₹10 crore. The money was allegedly invested in the stock market and partly diverted through fake donations to religious mutts, including Suttur, Siddaganga, and Kunduru Mutts, under the guise of feeding students.

His operation was finally exposed after two men, Lokesh and Ramesh, conducted a sting operation posing as a contractor and lineman. The hidden camera recordings captured Sharanappa demanding bribes and boasting about his control over top officials, evidence that became the foundation for the current FIR.

What’s Next

Lokayukta officers have intensified their probe to trace Sharanappa’s financial transactions and identify other possible collaborators. If the video and audio evidence are authenticated, Sharanappa may face imprisonment, marking a strong legal consequence following NewsFirst’s impactful reporting.