Bengaluru: In a major statewide crackdown on corruption, the Karnataka Lokayukta on Tuesday conducted simultaneous search operations at more than 47 locations and unearthed disproportionate assets worth Rs 35.31 crore from ten government officials.
Raids were carried out across Bengaluru, Mysuru, Davanagere, Mandya, Bidar, Haveri, Dharwad, Gadag, Kodagu and Shivamogga, targeting officers accused of amassing immense wealth beyond their known income.
In a press release issued here Lokayukta police informed that during the raid in Bengaluru, Lokayukta officials inspected the properties of Krishnamurthy P, an Office Superintendent at the Electronic City RTO. They found assets valued at Rs 4.26 crore, including seven residential sites, four houses, nearly six acres of agricultural land, Rs 22 lakh cash, gold worth Rs 32 lakh and vehicles valued at Rs 22 lakh.
In Mysuru, Revenue Inspector Ramaswamy C of Hotgalli Municipality was found in possession of properties worth Rs 2.77 crore, comprising three sites, two houses, seven acres of farmland, jewelery worth Rs 86.26 lakh and vehicles worth Rs 14.8 lakh.
In Davanagere, searches at the residence and properties of Prabhu J, Assistant Director with the APMC, revealed assets worth Rs 2.49 crore, including five sites, three houses, three acres of land, gold jewelery worth Rs 85.6 lakh and Rs 7.2 lakh cash.
Mandya witnessed the seizure of Rs 4.37 crore in assets from Puttaswamy C, Chief Accounts Officer of the Mandya Municipality, who owned eight sites, two houses, twelve acres of land and movable assets valued at Rs 89 lakh.
In Bidar, authorities raided Prem Singh, Chief Engineer of KBJNL, uncovering properties worth Rs 4.07 crore, including 24 acres of farmland, gold worth Rs 50.75 lakh, bank deposits worth Rs 62 lakh and high-end vehicles.
Meanwhile, in Haveri, Executive Engineer Shekappa Sannappa Mattikatti was found to possess assets valued at a massive Rs 5.36 crore, including fourteen sites, three houses, Rs 10.44 lakh cash, gold worth Rs 25.4 lakh and expensive household articles.
A raid in Dharwad targeted Subhashchandra Chandravva Natikar, Associate Professor at Karnataka University, whose assets were valued at Rs 3.11 crore, including five sites, two houses, eighteen acres of agricultural land and vehicles worth Rs 37 lakh.
In Gadag, Senior Veterinary Examiner Sathish Ramanna Kattimani was found with wealth amounting to Rs 2.09 crore, featuring two houses, four acres of land, Rs 17.16 lakh cash and jewelery worth Rs 74.8 lakh.
The biggest jewelery seizure occurred in Kodagu, where D.M. Girish, Assistant Executive Engineer in PWD Madikeri, possessed assets worth Rs 4.26 crore, including ornaments valued at a staggering Rs 1.81 crore. In Shivamogga, FDA officer Lakshmipathi C.N of SIMS was found with assets totaling Rs 2.49 crore, including three houses, three acres of land, Rs 12 lakh cash and Rs 23.29 lakh worth of gold.
Lokayukta officials have registered disproportionate assets cases against all ten officials and have begun detailed financial scrutiny and interrogation. Further evaluation and investigation are expected in the coming days as the state intensifies its fight against corruption.
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