‘Bribe for entry’ scam: Advocate seeks probe into alleged ‘monthly payments’ to RTO officials

Advocate S. Nataraja Sharma has lodged a complaint with the Karnataka Transport Commissioner alleging a systematic collection of monthly bribes from Keralam-registered tourist bus operators to facilitate the movement of their vehicles in Karnataka, and has sought an independent investigation into the alleged involvement of certain Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials and an intermediary identified as “Guru”.

In his complaint dated October 13, Mr. Sharma alleged that bus operators were making monthly payments ranging from ₹16,000 to ₹30,000 per bus through UPI transactions to facilitate the movement of their vehicles through routes and locations including Attibele, Electronic City, Majestic and Devanahalli.

The allegations reportedly emerged during discussions in a WhatsApp group titled ‘Bus Owners of India’. The complaint also refers to an alleged 60:40 arrangement, with 60% reportedly attributed to tax and 40% allegedly collected as a bribe. These claims are yet to be independently verified.

Mr. Sharma alleged that buses whose operators did not make the purported payments were sometimes detained and taken to RTO offices, where substantial amounts were allegedly demanded in connection with taxes and other charges. He sought an examination of UPI transactions, bank records, call detail records, vehicle inspection and detention registers, tax receipts, duty rosters, and the original electronic evidence shared by the operators.

The advocate urged the Transport Commissioner to refer the matter to the competent vigilance or anti-corruption agency, including the Karnataka Lokayukta police, if warranted. He also sought an audit of Keralam-registered tourist buses entering Karnataka through Attibele and other routes to establish whether applicable taxes had been paid and whether enforcement action had been selectively applied.