Karnataka Lokayukta raids multiple officials, recovers cash, gold & 80 liquor bottles
Bengaluru: Karnataka Lokayukta officials on Tuesday conducted simultaneous raids at the properties of serving and retired government officials in different parts of the state following complaints of possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income, recovering cash, gold jewellery, liquor bottles, property documents, and other valuables during the searches.
The raids were carried out in Mandya, Kalaburagi and Hubballi-Dharwad, targeting a retired Backward Classes Welfare (BCM) Hostel Superintendent and serving Hubli Electricity Supply Company Ltd (HESCOM) and Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited (GESCOM) officials.
In Mandya, Lokayukta police raided the residence and farmhouse of the retired BCM Hostel Superintendent, in connection with allegations of amassing disproportionate assets and corruption. The searches were conducted at his residence in Vinayaka Layout, Maddur, and his farmhouse.
During the searches, officials reportedly found assets worth more than Rs 2 crore, along with cash, gold jewellery, hundreds of property documents, and expensive silk sarees.
Around 80 bottles of liquor were also reportedly found at the retired official’s residence. Officials also recovered food supplies allegedly meant for students of the BCM hostel, including rice, pulses, and cooking oil.
Gift boxes that had been brought by the government for distribution to officials and VIPs during a literary conference held in Mandya two years ago were also found at the residence and farmhouse.
Lokayukta officials are examining the property documents and other materials recovered during the searches. A photocopying machine and scanner were taken to the locations to copy and digitise the documents as part of the investigation.
In Kalaburagi, Lokayukta officials raided the residence of a woman Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) working with GESCOM in Mahalakshmi Layout following complaints of disproportionate assets.
A team led by Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Siddaraju conducted the raid. Officials reportedly recovered around 400 grams of gold during the search. The Lokayukta is examining the officer’s assets and financial records to determine whether they are disproportionate to her known sources of income.
In Hubballi-Dharwad, Lokayukta officials conducted searches at four locations linked to a HESCOM AEE and his family following allegations of possessing disproportionate assets.
A team led by Lokayukta Deputy Superintendent of Police Basavaraj Budni carried out the searches. The locations included the HESCOM office in Hubballi, the residence and office of the AEE’s wife, a house in Akshay Park in Hubballi, and property belonging to the officer’s brother in Dharwad.
The officer is working as an AEE with HESCOM, while his wife is also an engineer with the power utility. The Gopanakoppa HESCOM office and the residence of Kiran Kumar’s brother were among the locations searched.
The Lokayukta teams are verifying property documents, bank and financial records and other materials recovered from all the locations to determine the extent of assets allegedly accumulated beyond the officials’ known sources of income.