Ex-Constable Extorts ₹4.15 Crore from Tumakuru RTO Officials – Lokayukta Probe Deepens

Updated: June 21, 2025, 10:00 AM IST

KARNATAKA — In a startling extortion racket that has rocked the Karnataka Lokayukta, 45‑year‑old former constable Ningappa Savant was arrested on June 2 after allegedly siphoning off over ₹4.15 crore from government officials, including a Tumakuru Regional Transport Officer (RTO). Posing as senior anti‑corruption officers, Savant is accused of coercing bribes by threatening imminent raids—then laundering the proceeds through cryptocurrency wallets.

5 Key Takeaways

• Modus Operandi: Savant impersonated Lokayukta SPs over phone and WhatsApp, threatening raids unless officials paid up hindustantimes.comindianexpress.com.
• Amount Extorted: Over ₹4.15 crore collected from RTO, excise, transport, BBMP and other officials across Karnataka hindustantimes.comindianexpress.com.
• Cryptocurrency Trail: Funds were converted into crypto across 13 wallets; all have been frozen as part of the probe hindustantimes.com.
• IPS Link: WhatsApp chats and office visits tie Savant to IPS officer Srinath Joshi, former SP of the Bengaluru City Lokayukta unit hindustantimes.comindianexpress.com.
• Legal Developments: Joshi sought anticipatory bail on June 12; Savant granted interim relief by the High Court on June 17 over procedural lapses in arrest.

How the Scam Unraveled

On May 23, Tumakuru RTO A.V. Prasad reported a call from “Vamsi Krishna, Lokayukta SP,” demanding ₹1 lakh via Google Pay to cancel a raid on the RTO’s office. When the RTO alerted local police, the Lokayukta’s own cyber‑crime unit took over the investigation. Within days, forensic analysis of Savant’s seized mobile revealed:

• Caller ID Spoofs: Real photos and officer names stored on WhatsApp, used to dupe targets.
• Cryptic Chats: Messages to a “SP Joshi” reporting daily takings.
• Office Access Logs: Frequent visits by Savant to the Bengaluru Lokayukta complex.

“The accused admitted investing extorted sums in cryptocurrencies under his name and relatives’ names,” the Karnataka Lokayukta said in an official statement. All 13 wallets identified have since been frozen pending further forensic audit hindustantimes.com.

Expert Analysis

“This case underscores the growing nexus between impersonation scams and digital currencies,” says Dr. Nandita Dutta, Professor of Criminology at National Law University, Delhi (Profile). “Extortion via spoofed identities exploits both institutional trust and technological opacity in crypto transactions.”

Dr. Dutta recommends:

1. Caller‑ID Authentication: Implementing multi‑factor voice verification for anti‑corruption agencies.
2. Crypto Oversight: Mandating KYC for high‑value digital‑asset transfers to flag suspicious patterns.

What Happens Next?

1. Lokayukta Appeal: The anti‑corruption watchdog plans to challenge the High Court stay on portions of the FIR, seeking to lift injunctions against investigating certain officers.
2. IPS Officer’s Bail Hearing: Srinath Joshi’s anticipatory bail plea is listed for hearing on June 24 in the special court.
3. Broader Probe: Investigators are now examining whether other excise and BBMP officials paid bribes through Savant.

Daily Digest

• June 20: High Court grants interim bail to Savant, stays summons on Joshi.
• June 18: Lokayukta freezes Savant’s crypto wallets after CID report.
• June 2: Savant arrested in Bengaluru, initial ₹1 lakh raid call traced.

Stay tuned for updates as the Lokayukta probe unfolds.

Fact‑Check

• Amount Verified: FIR and official Lokayukta press release confirm ₹4.15 crore figure hindustantimes.com.
• Dates & Officers: May 23 complaint date and IPS officer’s identity corroborated by both Hindustan Times and Indian Express reports hindustantimes.comindianexpress.com.