A Dharwad tahsildar, Sachchidanand Kachanur, was arrested by Lokayukta Police on September 16 after being caught red‑handed taking a 50‑lakh rupee bribe for the rectification of land records. He was taken to the Lokayukta Special Court in Dharwad the following day and was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, until October 1.
The arrest took place late at night near Karnatak College in Dharwad, where Kachanur was caught red‑handed. He was produced before the court on September 17.
Lokayukta Police said the official had demanded a total of 1 crore rupees in two instalments of 50 lakh each, plus one acre of land, in connection with changes to the title records of a 33‑acre plot in Yerikoppa village on the Pune‑Bengaluru National Highway. The landowner, Manjunath of Bagalkot, approached the Lokayukta Police after the demand was made, prompting the registration of a case. During the operation, the police seized 50 lakh rupees in cash. They are now investigating whether other persons were involved and examining documents related to the mutation and title‑transfer process for the Yerikoppa property.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has called on Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to order a judicial inquiry, claiming that Congress leaders were present when the cash was handed over and were subsequently removed by investigators under pressure. Lokayukta officers described the operation as major, given the involvement of a serving Revenue Department official and the amount of cash seized, and further investigation is underway.
