'Stop This Deep Corruption': Mohandas Pai To Karnataka CM Over Bribery Allegations Against Govt Depts
Pai's statement came after a detailed post on X that went viral for highlighting systemic corruption in Bengaluru involving bribe demands by government departments.
Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai has urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar to stop the “harassment" of businesses by government officials, after a post went viral on bribe demands by government departments.
Pai was responding to a post by journalist Sagorika, who highlighted the persistent harassment of small businesses in Bengaluru regardless of the government in power. She shared the ordeal of a friend who owned a small sporting goods store in the city and was – along with other businesses – forced to pay lakhs in bribes.
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Reacting to the post, Pai appealed to Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to stop the harassment and “deep corruption" of small business owners. “We elected you to give us good governance as you promised, not this deep corruption, bribing!"
Pai acknowledged that earlier governments are also responsible for this situation but said the onus was on the Congress government as it was in power and can put an end to this practice. “Pl save us from this harassment and deep corruption (sic)," he added.
Sir @CMofKarnataka @siddaramaiah @DKShivakumar as our CM and DCM Pl stop this harassment and deep corruption. We elected you to give us good governance as you promised not this deep corruption,bribing!Yes earlier govts too are responsible but today you are in power. Pl save us… https://t.co/QlrCLGUDM8— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) March 27, 2025
In her X post, Sagorika said government departments were involved in taking “fines" from business owners, who had little legal recourse as they had to spend months in court.
“Someone from the Department of Metrology will come in one day. Go through EVERY item in stock so they can find something where the label has fallen off or is less visible. They ask that it’s okay for them to give him a court date so he can resolve it. Or he can pay a ‘fine’. In a few days, the Department of Labour comes in. They will come with several people and go through every book and registration. Find something to blackmail him about. Then ask for a fine," she said in an X post.
She said even GST audits and routine trade licenses have become tools for extortion. “A man, well-dressed, well-known to businesses across town, makes lakhs in a day. He sits at the store and does not budge until he finds something. Keeps conversation light. Finds something. Asks to be paid," she said. Local police also reportedly seize goods in exchange for bribes and send veiled threats to owners.
“This is understood to be normal. This needs to change," Sagorika mentioned. “Business happens despite our system, not because of it here. If there is change, it isn’t showing through very much."
Notably, this came to light after an Assistant Commissioner of Police and an Assistant Sub-Inspector were arrested in Bengaluru on charges of receiving a bribe of Rs 2 lakh, officials told news agency PTI. The two were arrested based on a complaint by a 42-year-old software engineer on Tuesday night, they said. The Lokayukta police also arrested four other government officers in three separate cases.
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