Bengaluru, 31 Oct 

Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday asserted that the government will not be lenient on allegations of payment of a bribe to anyone in any department, including police and asserted that appropriate action is being taken.

The Minister said he has given standing instructions against the demand and acceptance of bribery. He added that both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have time and again asserted the government's tough stand against bribery.

“We never encourage bribery in any manner. That’s why we take action soon after getting the information, initiate departmental inquiry and suspend them. We pursue the matter to the extent that when the charges are proved, we dismiss them from service," Parameshwara told reporters in the City.

He was reacting to the retired chief financial officer of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Sivakumar K’s, allegation that he was forced to pay a bribe.

Following the death of his 34-year-old daughter from a brain haemorrhage in September, Sivakumar, in a social media post, had alleged that he was forced to pay a bribe at every stage; be it for an ambulance, an FIR copy, for cremation and also to the municipal corporation staff for issuance of the death certificate.

He had levelled allegations against the officer and a constable at the Bellandur Police station in the City for demanding bribes and for being arrogant.