Lokayukta police raid officials in disproportionate assets cases, seized cash, gold worth crores

BENGALURU: The Karnataka Lokayukta conducted simultaneous raids on the residences and offices of several government officials across the state, including Bengaluru, on allegations of accumulating assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

In Bengaluru, the officials whose premises were raided include Manjunath G, Medical Officer at Mallasandra Heritage Hospital, V Sumangala, Director, Higher Education Board — Lokayukta officials raided her residence in Kengeri Satelite Town, and seized documents; and N K Ganga Marigowda, Surveyor and Special Land Acquisition Officer, BMRCL.

In Bidar, the Lokayukta police conducted simultaneous raids on the residences and offices of Dhoolappa Hosale, Assistant Director of Agriculture at Aurad. According to officials, Rs 83 lakh in cash and 160 grams of gold jewellery were seized from Dhoolappa Hosale’s residence.

The estimated value of the disproportionate assets is around Rs 1.80 crore, with some reports suggesting it could be as high as Rs 3.5 crore. The raids were conducted at four locations, including Dhoolappa Hosale’s residences in Bidar and his office in Aurad.

In Bagalkot, the Navanagar residence and Kamathagi office of Chetan Malaji, Assistant Executive Engineer at KBJNL, was carried out. The officials seized documents and other evidence related to Chetan Malaji’s assets and income.

In Chitraduraga, the Lokayukta police conducted simultaneous raids on the residences and offices of government officials Chandra Kumar, Assistant Director in the Agriculture Department. His two house in Taralabalu Nagar and T Nulenoor village of Holalkere taluk, and the Agriculture Department office in Chitradurga were searched.

In Davanagere, raids were conducted on the residences and offices of two government officials — Jagadish Naik, Assistant Engineer at KRIDL, and Naduvinamane, Senior Manager at the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department.

The raids were conducted at multiple locations, including Jagadish Naik’s office in Davanagere and three locations in Shivamogga district, apart from Naduvinamane’s residence at Saraswati Nagar in Davanagere.

In Hassan, simultaneous raids were conducted on the residences of Jyothi Mary, First Division Assistant (FDA) at the District Health Office (DHO) in Hassan, and her sister in Satyamangala Layout and Kuvempunagar.

In Haveri, raids were conducted on the residences and offices of two government officials — Ashok Araleshwara, Revenue Inspector at Ranebennur, where assets worth Rs 1.35 crore were seized, including two luxury homes, two plots, 11 acres of land, and gold jewellery; Basavesh Shidennur, Executive Officer at Savanoor Taluk Panchayat where assets worth Rs 1.67 crore were seized, including six plots, one house and gold jewellery. Both officials were taken into custody after the raids.
In Karwar, the residence and commercial establishments of L P Naik, a Regional Transport Officer (RTO) in Udupi, were raided at Chandavar village and his commercial establishments in Kumta.

The Lokayukta police conducted a raid on the residences of Lakshminarayan P Naik, Regional Transport Officer (RTO) in Udupi, and Ravi, a broker associated with the RTO office. The raid was conducted at Naik’s flat in Kinnimulki, Udupi, and Ravi’s residence in Padualevuru.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of the alleged corruption and disproportionate assets. The raids were conducted based on a public complaint alleging corruption and irregularities.