BENGALURU: The Lokayukta police on Tuesday conducted raids at 10 locations across state, targeting officials suspected of corruption.
The officials raided include Kumaraswamy, RTO Superintendent, Bengaluru; Puttaswamy, Mandya Municipal Commissioner; Prem Singh, Executive Engineer, Upper Krishna Project, Bidar; Ramaswamy C, Revenue Inspector, Mysuru; Subhash Chandra, Associate Professor, Karnatak University, Dharwad; Satish, Senior Examiner, Pro. Animal Clinic, Huligol, Dharwad; Lakshmipathi C N, Medical College, Shivamogga; Prabhu J, Director, MPOA, Davanagere; Girish D M, Engineer, PWD, Mysuru (Madikeri).
The raids were conducted at the homes and offices of the 11 officials over allegations of disproportionate assets and documents were being scrutinised. During the raid, property deeds worth crores, gold ornaments, and cash were allegedly found at the residence of Hootagalli Municipality Revenue Inspector Ramaswamy C in Mysuru.
Lokayukta officials conducted simultaneous raids at three locations in Bidar, targeting Prem Singh, Chief Engineer of the Upper Krishna Project, in connection with allegations of amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income. The raids were conducted at Singh’s residences in Shivanagar, Bidar, and Bhimarayanagudi, Shahapur taluk, Yadagir district, as well as his office.
Singh, a native of Bagdal, Bidar taluk, was caught off guard by the early morning raids. Lokayukta officials, led by SP Siddaraju and DYSP Hanumantharai, were scrutinizing documents seized.
The homes and office of J Prabhu, Assistant Director of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee’s sales division in Davangere, were also raided on Tuesday morning. The raids were conducted at Prabhu’s house in Anjaneya Layout, his farmhouse in Doddaghatta village, and his office, led by Lokayukta Police Superintendent M S Kaulapore.
The raids were part of an investigation into allegations of Prabhu amassing wealth through corrupt means. The authorities seized Rs 5 lakh cash, gold, and silver, and suspect he may have invested in properties elsewhere. The Lokayukta team, including Deputy SP Kalavati and Inspector Gurubasavaraj, is scrutinizing documents and continuing the investigation.
Lokayukta officials raided the home and office of Subhas Chandra Natikar, Professor of Sociology at Karnataka University, Dharwad, and Coordinator of Ambedkar Studies. The raids were conducted at Natikar’s home in Shetter Colony, Dharwad, the Sociology Department, Ambedkar Studies, and his family home in Tamadaddi, Talikoti, Koppa.
The Lokayukta team, led by SP Siddalingappa, seized documents and assets, citing allegations of Natikar amassing wealth through corrupt means. The raid comes as a shock to Natikar, who was set to take up the post of Karnataka University’s Evaluation Officer, with the order issued just on Tuesdayday.
Natikar’s family was also celebrating his nephew’s wedding, with the haldi ceremony held last night, when the Lokayukta team arrived. The Lokayukta officials were scrutinizing documents at the Sociology Department and Ambedkar Studies, with the Deputy SP leading the investigation.
Simultaneous raids were also conducted at five locations linked to Satish Kattimani, a senior examiner with the Animal Husbandry Department, in Gadag district. The raids were conducted at Kattimani’s home in Betageri, his office in Huilgol village, his associates’ homes, and his daughter’s home in Bengaluru, following allegations of amassing wealth through corrupt means.
Kattimani and his friend Kalmesh Hiremath, an FDA with the Animal Husbandry Department, are being investigated. The authorities had brought a cash counting machine to count the seized money. The raids were conducted by officials from Belagavi, Bagalkot, Gadag, and Vijayapura districts, and a case has been registered at the Gadag Lokayukta Police Station.
Lokayukta officials raided the home of Shekhappa Mattikatti, Executive Engineer of the Urban Development Authority in Haveri district, two days ago. The raids were conducted at six locations, including Mattikatti’s home, commercial complexes, and properties belonging to his associates, based on allegations of amassing wealth disproportionate to his income (207 per cent excess).
The investigation revealed assets worth Rs 3,46,68,587, including a commercial complex in Hubballi’s Akshay Park, a two-storey RCC house in Hubballi’s Bairidevarkoppa village, and an RCC house in Davangere. The Lokayukta team, led by DYSP, is scrutinizing documents and assets, and has registered a case against Mattikatti.
Lokayukta officials raided three locations in Kodagu district, Karnataka, early morning, targeting Satish, Assistant Executive Engineer with the Public Works Department. The raids were conducted at Satish’s office near Convent Junction, Madikeri, his government quarters near Sudarshan Circle, and his residence in Mysuru, led by Lokayukta Deputy SP Dinakar Shetty.
The officials seized documents and are questioning Satish as part of the investigation into allegations of corruption and amassing wealth through illicit means.
Simultaneous raids were conducted at five locations linked to Puttaswamy of Mandya Municipal Corporation, early morning. The Lokayukta team raided Puttaswamy’s family home in Torechakahanahalli village, his official residence in Mysuru, his jaggery unit in the same village, and associates’ homes, based on allegations of amassing wealth disproportionate to his income.
The officials are scrutinizing documents and assets, and have launched a thorough investigation into Puttaswamy’s financial dealings. Lokayukta officials raided the home and office of Lakshmipathi, Dean of Shivamogga Medical College (SIMS), early on Tuesday morning.
The raids were conducted at Lakshmipathi’s residence in J H Patel Layout, Shivamogga, his home in Jagalur, Davangere, and his office at Shivamogga Medical College, led by Lokayukta SP Manjunath Chaudhari. The officials are scrutinizing documents and assets, based on allegations of Lakshmipathi amassing wealth through corrupt means.
Several government officials across Karnataka have come under scrutiny following raids and complaints submitted by the KLA district units under the SIR process. These officials are from various departments, including municipal administration, revenue, veterinary services, education, and public works.
