Karnataka: Commercial tax deputy commissioner caught taking Rs 6 lakh bribe
Hubballi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Deputy Commissioner of the Commercial Tax Department, Bharath Kumar Hegde, was caught on Monday while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 6 lakh, Lokayukta officials said.
Hegde, 48, was trapped while receiving the money from Ankola-based businessman Vishwajit Nayak, 53, following a complaint lodged with the Lokayukta, Bengaluru Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Shiv Prakash Devaraj told PTI.
“Acting on a credible complaint, our team conducted a trap and caught the accused officer while accepting Rs 6 lakh,” he said.
According to officials, Nayak had purchased eight tipper trucks in 2019 and was eligible for an Input Tax Credit (ITC) of around Rs 60 lakh, of which he had claimed Rs 34 lakh.
The Commercial Tax Department had registered a case alleging that the ITC was claimed illegally and had initiated an inquiry.
Nayak had been summoned four times earlier for questioning and was called again earlier on Monday.
It is alleged that the officer demanded a bribe of Rs 10 lakh, but finally settled for Rs 6 lakh to close the case.
“A team led by Bengaluru Lokayukta SP Shiv Prakash Devaraj carried out the operation and secured the accused during the transaction,” a Lokayukta official said.
“We have registered a case, and the investigation is in progress,” he added.
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Gujarat builds 870 MW battery power backup network to stabilise renewable energy grid
Gandhinagar (PTI): Gujarat has initiated battery storage systems at five locations in the state, with a total capacity of 870 MW, to maintain the stability of the renewable power grid, officials said on Saturday.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are essential for storing electricity generated from solar and other renewable sources. They help manage additional load and maintain grid stability.
“Gujarat has initiated battery storage systems at five locations with a total capacity of 870 MW,” an official release stated.
The state has also registered 13 projects across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Banaskantha, Patan and Kutch districts to set up additional battery storage systems, it said.
Modhera in Gujarat, India’s first solar village, has launched the country’s first BESS integrated with a solar power plant, it said.
"Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state has continued to advance in this direction and has strengthened its position among the leading states driving battery storage systems in India,” the release said.
Recently, a battery storage system was commissioned at Charal in the Sanand taluka of Ahmedabad, it said.
Four systems are operational at Modhera in Mehsana and Lakhpat in Kutch. The state government has also included advanced energy storage systems as a key component in the Gujarat Integrated Renewable Energy Policy, 2025, the release said.
Accordingly, standalone battery storage projects, works linked with new renewable energy installations, and those integrated with existing renewable energy systems are being approved, it said.
Once the Standard Operating Procedure is approved, registrations for battery storage will open for commercial and industrial users, it said, adding that the move will allow them to set up battery storage alongside their solar or wind projects.
The state government is developing battery storage systems across Gujarat, with companies being invited in through a competitive bidding process.
GETCO (Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation) and power distribution companies strategically identify locations for battery storage systems based on grid capacity and operational requirements, the release said.
Power generation from solar and other renewable sources fluctuates throughout the day. Excess energy generated during peak hours can be stored and supplied later during periods of high demand, especially in the evening when solar output declines. Battery storage systems help reduce stress on the grid and improve grid stability, it added.
