Pramesh S Jain
The Karnataka Lokayukta on Monday conducted simultaneous searches at seven locations across Bengaluru as part of its investigation into two cases of alleged criminal misconduct involving senior Revenue Department officials accused of illegally allotting government land to private individuals.
The searches were carried out pursuant to court-issued warrants in after the agency obtained prior approval from the State government under the Prevention of Corruption Act to investigate the public servants.
The Lokayukta has booked M.K.Jagadish,Special Deputy Commissioner,Bengaluru,B.R.Manjunath,Tahsildar, and Rajanikanth,Shirastedar,on allegations of criminal misconduct while discharging their official duties.
According to the Lokayukta,the accused officials allegedly facilitated the wrongful allotment of more than 13 acres of government land at Hunasamaranahalli to private individuals,causing a loss to the State exchequer.
As part of the investigation,Lokayukta officers searched the office of the Special Deputy Commissioner,the Tahsildar offices at Devanahalli and Yelahanka,and the residences of the accused officials.
Documents relating to the alleged illegal land allotments were seized during the searches.
In a separate case,the Lokayukta is investigating allegations against M.K.Jagadish over the alleged illegal allotment of two acres of government land in Yelahanka Marenahalli village to a private individual.
Searches were also conducted in connection with this case, and officials seized documents believed to be relevant to the investigation.The Lokayukta said further investigation is in progress.
