Lokayukta police swoop down on officials in simultaneous raids across state

BENGALURU: The Lokayukta police on Monday conducted simultaneous raids on serving and retired officials across several districts over illegal properties and seized incriminating documents.

The Lokayukta police raided the Yelahanka zone Assistant Director Town Planning (ADTP) Gangadharaiah in Bengaluru and searched his house in Mahalakshmi Layout.

The jewellery and cash seized from Gangadharaiah’s house.

They found gold and diamoned jewellery worth Rs 1 crore, cash of Rs 80 lakh and foreign currency, five acres of land worth Rs 1.5 crore in Nelamangala, two sites in Malleswaram worth Rs 3.65 crore and 12 flats in Yelahanka, JC Nagar and Hebbal.

The Lokayukta police raided the farmhouse of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) engineer T Hanumantharaya at Bochapura villaged in Hiriyur taluk.

The farmhouse of one of the officials.

They also raided the residences of Holalkere tahsildar Nagaragj in Channagiri and Shikaripura and his office in Holalkere. The Lokayukta police also raided the residence of retired Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) in Shivamogga and his farmhouse near Honnali.

The residence of taluk panchayat EO Venkateshappa.

In Kolar district, the Lokayukta officials raided three properties of Bangarpet Taluk Panchayat executive officer Venkateshappa at Bangarpet town and two properties at Thippadoddi in Mulbagal taluk. Venkateshappa had been EC of the taluk panchayat for eight years and only two days ago, he was transferred to Bagepalli in Chikkaballapur district.

The residence of an official who was raided in Bidar district.

The Lokayukta police also raided Gescom AEE Hussainsab’s office and his properties in Raghavendra Colony in his hometown Shidiginamola and checked documents. He is accused of having amassed illegal properties in Ballari and Vijayanagara districs.

The officials also raided Mudabi deputy tahslidar Vijaykumar Swamy’s office, his houses in Bidar and Basavakalyan and a garage. Minor Irrigation Department engineer Suresh Meda’s office and his house in Bidar.