Bengaluru drug controller caught accepting bribe for pharmacy license approval: Report

An assistant drug controller, Ajayraj D. Sha, was arrested for accepting a bribe to approve a pharmacy license.

Published on: Nov 5, 2024, 18:00:03 IST

By Yamini C S

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In a new development, an assistant drug controller in Bengaluru was caught by the Lokayukta police on November 4, i.e., on Monday, while accepting a bribe from a pharmacist in exchange for approving his licence, The Hindu reported.

The officer reportedly demanded ₹50,000 but agreed to lower the amount to ₹40,000 to issue a licence to the pharmacist. (HT File)

The officer, identified as Ajayraj D. Sha, reportedly demanded ₹50,000 but agreed to lower the amount to ₹40,000 to issue a licence for the pharmacist, Subramanya, to establish his wholesale pharmacy business.

Following a complaint, Lokayukta officials detained Sha under the Prevention of Corruption Act and later conducted a search of his residence, the report noted. The Lokayukta is known for its action against corruption.

In a similar development recently, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed on Monday that he has been called to appear before the Mysuru Lokayukta in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allottment case.

When questioned by the media, Siddaramaiah said, "Yes, Mysore Lokayukta has issued a notice regarding MUDA. I will go to Mysore Lokayukta on November 6," as quoted by news agency ANI.

The inquiry was officially launched by the Mysuru Lokayukta following a court order on September 27, which mandated the filing of an FIR. The investigation centres around allegations of irregularities in the allotment of 14 prime plots, valued at ₹56 crore, to the Chief Minister’s wife, Parvathi, by MUDA.

The controversy stems from claims that MUDA unlawfully allocated the 14 sites to Parvathi in a highly sought-after area of Mysuru, raising questions of misconduct in the land distribution process.

(With inputs from ANI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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