Lokayukta police raid officials over disproportionate assets; 2 held for bribery

BENGALURU: The Lokayukta police on Tuesday conducted raids on houses and offices of several officials across the state in connection with disproportionate cases. Two officials were also caught while receiving bribes.

In Bengaluru, Chikkajala police sub-inspector V Shivanna was caught redhanded while receiving a bribe of Rs 50,000 in connection with a case. A data operator at the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in Haveri was also caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 6,000 by Lokayukta officials.

Savita Belligatti, the accused, allegedly demanded the bribe from a man named Naveen to grant no-objection certificate (NoC) for a private clinic. She has been arrested and is being questioned by the authorities.

The Lokayukta police raided S M Kambale, Project Director of Bagalkot District Panchayat over allegations of disproportionate assets. A team led by Lokayukta DySP Suresh Reddy conducted searches at Kambale’s house in Nargund, Gadag district, and his office in Bagalkot. Documents were being scrutinized at the District Panchayat office and Assistant Secretary’s office.

In Vijayapura, the Lokayukta police raided four locations including the residence of Agriculture department Assistant Director Malappa Yarzhari, on charges of disproportionate assets.

The locations raided include Yarzhari’s residence in Jalanagar, Vijayapura, his farmhouse in Basavana Bagewadi, his office and his father-in-law’s house. Officials were scrutinizing documents and assets. Vehicles, including a car and scooter, were also checked and important documents have been seized.

Lokayukta officials raided the houses and businesses of Maruthi Yashwant Malvi, CEO of a cooperative bank, in Siddapura and Haliyal in Uttara Kannada district, on charges of possessing disproportionate assets.

The searches are focused on Malvi’s homes and a clothing store in the two locations. Officials were examining documents and collecting information on assets and cash. Further action will be taken based on the seized documents.

In Sindhanur, Lokayukta police conducted an early morning targeting B Vijayalakshmi, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Rural Water Supply division. The raids were carried out at five locations, including two houses of Vijayalakshmi in Raichur, Yadgir, Joladhegati, and Sindhanur RWS office, based on allegations of disproportionate assets.

Teams from Raichur, Koppal, and Ballari districts, led by Lokayukta SP Satish Chitgubbi, were scrutinizing documents, gold ornaments and documents related to Vijayalakshmi’s alleged 49 properties.