CorruptionProbe – Karnataka Lokayukta Raids Reveal Assets Worth Over ₹31 Crore
CorruptionProbe – A sweeping anti-corruption operation conducted by the Karnataka Lokayukta Police has uncovered assets worth ₹31.11 crore allegedly held by eight government officials beyond their known sources of income. The coordinated action, carried out on June 16, involved searches at more than 35 locations across the state, including residences, offices, and properties linked to family members of the accused officials.
Statewide Searches Across Multiple Districts
The raids were conducted simultaneously in several districts following investigations into disproportionate assets cases. Authorities carried out searches in Bengaluru City, Bengaluru Rural, Davanagere, Kalaburagi, and Chikkamagaluru as part of the extensive crackdown on suspected corruption within government departments.
According to information released by the Lokayukta, the seized wealth includes immovable properties valued at ₹22.73 crore and movable assets estimated at ₹8.38 crore. Officials said the operation was based on complaints and preliminary inquiries that indicated significant asset accumulation beyond legitimate income sources.
Town Planning Official Among Top Asset Holders
Rajanna S.L., Additional Director of Town Planning with the Karnataka Housing Board in Bengaluru, was found to possess assets worth ₹4.97 crore, making him one of the highest-ranked officials in terms of recovered wealth. Searches linked to him reportedly led investigators to three residential sites, two houses, around three acres of agricultural land, and gold and silver ornaments valued at approximately ₹70 lakh.
Major Findings in Kalaburagi
In Kalaburagi, investigators examined properties associated with Manik S. Kanakatte, a Superintendent Engineer in the Public Works Department. Authorities estimated his total assets at ₹4.68 crore. The findings included five sites, three houses, a commercial building, and nearly ₹50 lakh deposited in savings accounts.
Forest Department Officials Under Scanner
The operation also highlighted significant wealth accumulation among forest department personnel. Harshavardhan P.N., serving as Deputy Conservator of Forests in Bengaluru Rural, was found to have assets valued at ₹4.85 crore.
Meanwhile, K.S. Mohan, Assistant Conservator of Forests in Chikkamagaluru, allegedly possessed assets worth ₹3.62 crore. Officials stated that these holdings included agricultural land measuring about seven acres along with other properties and investments.
Cash, Jewellery and Land Among Seized Assets
In Davanagere, Siddeshwar N. Hebbal, Chief Mechanical Engineer with the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, was found with assets valued at ₹3.76 crore. Among the items documented during the searches were ₹37 lakh in cash and gold and silver valuables collectively worth ₹1.23 crore.
Investigators also identified substantial assets belonging to several other officials. Uday Kumar M.B., an Assistant Executive Engineer with BESCOM in Bengaluru, was linked to assets worth ₹3.54 crore, including 10 residential sites.
Sanna Kenchappa, Superintendent Engineer with KRIDL in Davanagere, allegedly held assets worth ₹2.97 crore, including approximately 31 acres of agricultural land. Krishna Naik L.A., Secretary of the Bayaluseeme Area Development Board, was found to possess assets estimated at ₹2.70 crore, including seven sites and three houses.
Investigation Continues
Lokayukta officials said the searches form part of a broader effort to investigate suspected illegal wealth accumulation among public servants. Authorities are currently verifying property documents, reviewing financial records, examining bank transactions, and inspecting bank lockers linked to the accused individuals.
The agency stated that further legal and departmental action will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation and the evidence collected during the verification process.