Mangalore: A local court on Friday sent the corrupt government officer U. Jeethedranath, assistant director of tourism department to 15 days of judicial custody. He was caught red-handed on Thursday, while accepting bribe of Rs 10,000 from an unemployed youth of Puttur.

Among the many applications received by the district administration and tourism department, 60 unemployed persons belonging to background and minority communities received Rs 2 lakh each as subsidy to buy taxi vehicle, in order to encourage self-entrepreneurship.

Among them, a person from Puttur tipped off the Lokayukta about the government officer asking bribe from the applicants in exchange for the subsidy granted to the individuals.

Accordingly, the lokayukta sleuths caught a government officer and the clerk red – handed while accepting the bribe.

Confirmed sources said that the government officer asked bribe from almost all the applicants. In 2012-13, as many as 60 persons received  the subsidy.

Meanwhile, Dayanath Kotian, president of Forum for Justice told newskarnataka.com that he will collect the names of all the applicants and work on the case. He said that there is a  possibility that the government officer might have taken bribes from most of the applicants who received the Rs 2 lakh subsidy.

Lokayukta inspector said that the accused is in  judicial custody for 15 days. “We will investigate from all sides, and not one particular case of corruption”, he added.

However, sources in the Lokayukta said that  it is difficult to prove, related cases of corruption, involving other applicants who received subsidy. In order to prove the same, other applicants have to come forth as witnesses, with proper evidence.