Pramesh S Jain
The Karnataka Lokayukta Police on Wednesday carried out simultaneous searches at more than 53 locations across the state in connection with disproportionate assets (DA)cases registered against 10 government officials serving in various departments.
The coordinated raids were conducted at the residences,offices and properties of relatives of the accused officials in Bengaluru City,Chitradurga, Kalaburagi,Bengaluru South,Shivamogga,Raichur and Tumakuru districts.
According to the Lokayukta Police,the searches revealed immovable assets worth Rs.37.95 crore and movable assets worth Rs.11.88 crore,taking the total value of assets traced during the operation to approximately Rs.49.83 crore.
Among those raided,Basanagouda Patil,Executive Engineer with KBJNL in Raichur district,was found to possess the highest value of assets,estimated at Rs.9.44 crore, including 92 acres of agricultural land, five sites and four houses.
In Bengaluru,searches were conducted against Narendra Kumar M,Assistant Engineer, PWD;Praveen Srihari B, Superintendent Engineer,KRIDL;and Pushpa D.R., Additional Director (Administration),Agricultural Marketing Board.
Narendra Kumar M was found to own three houses and four acres of agricultural land valued at Rs.5.95 crore, besides movable assets worth Rs.2.56 crore, including cash, gold and silver ornaments, vehicles,fixed deposits and other valuables.
Praveen Srihari B allegedly possessed two sites,two houses and 11 acres of agricultural land valued at Rs.4.60 crore,along with movable assets worth Rs.1.28 crore.
Pushpa D.R.was found to own one site,three houses,a commercial building and agricultural land valued at Rs.7.38 crore,besides movable assets worth Rs.78.22 lakh.
In Chitradurga,raids targeted Duggappa B.H.,Range Forest Officer,and Shankara M.,Associate Professor (Agricultural Engineering).Their assets were estimated at Rs.1.95 crore and Rs.3.28 crore,respectively.
Searches in Kalaburagi were conducted against Amruth Rao,Assistant Executive Engineer with GESCOM.
Officials found assets worth nearly Rs.3.98 crore, including multiple residential and commercial properties.
In Bengaluru South district,Thimmaiah,PDO of Kumbalagodu Gram Panchayat,was found to possess assets worth about Rs.3.72 crore,including four houses, two sites and agricultural land.
In Shivamogga,raids on Kiran Angadi,Assistant Conservator of Forest,revealed assets worth nearly Rs.1.95 crore.
In Tumakuru, Madhusudan N.,Assistant Engineer in the Minor Irrigation Department,was found with assets valued at Rs.2.95 crore,including three sites,a house, cash,jewellery and vehicles.
The Lokayukta Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain the extent of disproportionate assets allegedly acquired by the accused officials in violation of the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
