Lokayukta police raid officials in different parts of state over illegal assets

ENGALURU: The Lokayukta police on Tuesday conducted raids at several locations linked to government officials in connection with disproportionate assets cases.

A team of Lokayukta officers raided the office, house and hospital of Vijayanagara District Health Officer (DHO) Shankar Naik early on Tuesday following allegations of corruption and disproportionate assets.

The raid was conducted by Vijayanagara Lokayukta Deputy SP Sachin, PSI Amaresh, Rajesh Lamani, and officers from Koppal and Ballari, The Lokayukta team was scrutinizing documents and records seized during the raid.

The Lokayukta police also raided the residence of Belagavi Agriculture Vigilance Joint Director Rajasekha Bijapur, seizing documents and assets. The raid was conducted at Rajasekhar’s houses in Belagavi, Dharwad, Haveri, and Chitradurga, following allegations of disproportionate assets.

Rajasekhar, a former Joint Director of Agriculture in Dharwad, reportedly flushed around Rs 50,000 in cash down the toilet when he learned of the raid. He kept Lokayukta officers waiting outside for half an hour before opening the door.

The Lokayukta team, led by SP Siddalingappa, found 300 grams of gold jewellery and several bank passbooks during the search. Investigations revealed investments in a water sports venture in Shiggaon, Haveri district, a flat in Bengaluru, and an apartment under construction in Dharwad’s Sanmati Nagar. The raid uncovered crores of rupees in disproportionate assets, allegedly acquired by Rajasekhar and his family members.

The residence of Mandya Panchayat Raj Engineering Department superintendent Byresh was also raided and searches were conducted at three locations — his Mandya house, his aunt’s house in Maddur, and his office. The raid follows multiple complaints against Byresh from the public, prompting Lokayukta to take action.

#WATCH | Karnataka | Lokayukta conducts raid at Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department Executive Engineer, Rupla Naik’s house in Shivamogga https://t.co/yvrDXnoHy8 pic.twitter.com/ck4TTTeEnp

— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2025

In Shivamogga, Lokayukta police raided the house of Rupla Naik, Executive Engineer with the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department. The raid were conducted at Rupla Naik’s rented residence at Basavanagudi in Shivamogga.

Naik, who works in the Shivamogga office, also owns houses in Bengaluru and Chikkamagalur. Lokayukta officials were scrutinizing documents at Naik’s residence.