Karnataka’s Lokayukta Police on Tuesday searched more than 50 premises in various districts including Bengaluru City, Bangalore Rural, Gadag, Kalaburgi, Raichur and Chitradurga in connection with alleged disproportionate assets of 10 government officials.
The operation uncovered assets far beyond the officer’s legitimate source of income. Among the main finds were large quantities of land, houses, vehicles, cash, gold and immovable property worth Rs 48 crore.
A prominent case involved M Lokesh Babu, Superintending Engineer of Bescom’s Bengaluru East Circle. During the search, the property of the father was more than 6.7 crore rupees. His assets include two plots of land, three houses, agricultural land, three and a half lakhs in cash and jewelery worth 90 lakhs. According to Lokayukta Police, his total movable property is Rs 3.13 crore.
Similarly, SG Suresh, Revenue Inspector of Bruhat Bengaluru Metropolitan Corporation, was found to have assets worth Rs 1 crore 82 lakh, including three plots of land, two houses, a farmhouse, agricultural land, movable assets such as vehicles and jewellery. Dr Sunil Kumar, District Health Officer, Bengaluru Rural, allegedly had assets worth Rs 6.63 crore, including three houses, agricultural land, vehicles, gold and significant bank deposits.
BBMP’s tax inspector Krishnappa had allegedly accumulated Rs 2.21 crore in assets including agricultural land, houses, vehicles and gold jewellery. Higher Education Department Deputy Secretary Akesh Babu K reportedly had assets worth a total of Rs 7.92 crore, including property and agricultural land in Bangalore, movable assets such as cash and jewellery. It is alleged that the Lokayukta police seized a money counting machine from his house.
Search functions It has been revealed that the government officials of other districts also have a lot of wealth. Ramnagar Deputy Superintendent of Police Nanjundaiya has found assets worth Rs 12.53 million including agricultural land, house, vehicles and gold. Laxman Konerappa Karni, an official from Gadag, allegedly had assets worth Rs 2.02 crore, including agricultural land, houses and jewellery. Superintendent Engineer Ramappa Pandu Jadhav in Kalburgi is said to have assets worth Rs 3.58 crore, including agricultural land, houses, vehicles and shares.
Koppal Excise Inspector Ramesh B Agadi was found to have assets worth Rs 1 crore 61 lakh including agricultural land, vehicles and gold ornaments. Chitradurga assistant conservator of forest S Suresh allegedly had assets worth Rs 3.5 crore, including sites, houses, agricultural land and various movable assets.