Karnataka Lokayukta Launches Major Raids Across Multiple Cities
In a significant anti-corruption operation, sleuths from the Karnataka Lokayukta conducted simultaneous raids at 29 locations on Thursday. The targeted sites included residences, offices, and properties of relatives connected to four government officials across Bengaluru, Davanagere, and Dharwad. These actions were part of ongoing investigations into alleged disproportionate assets cases.
Targeted Officials and Locations
The raids focused on high-ranking officials from various state departments. In Bengaluru, properties associated with HM Janardhan, superintendent engineer with the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS), and Purushotham Das Hegde, chief engineer and project director of the Karnataka State Highway Development Project (KSHDP), were searched.
In Davanagere, the operation zeroed in on assets linked to Arjun RH, an assistant executive engineer (civil) with Bescom. Meanwhile, in Dharwad, raids were conducted on properties belonging to Somalingappa Fakkirappa Siddanagoudar, a survey supervisor and assistant director of land records (ADLR).
Substantial Assets Uncovered
During the extensive searches, authorities discovered a wide array of valuable items, highlighting the scale of the alleged corruption. The seized assets included gold, silver, cash, residential sites, houses, agricultural land, vehicles, and other high-value possessions.
The total worth of the uncovered assets is staggering. Purushotham Das Hegde was found to possess assets valued at approximately Rs 11.3 crore. HM Janardhan's assets were estimated at Rs 4.4 crore, while Arjun RH owned assets worth about Rs 2.2 crore. Somalingappa Fakkirappa Siddanagoudar had assets totaling Rs 1.8 crore.
Implications and Ongoing Investigation
This coordinated raid underscores the Lokayukta's commitment to tackling corruption within Karnataka's government machinery. The total value of assets discovered exceeds Rs 19.7 crore, raising serious questions about the sources of these officials' wealth relative to their known incomes.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities examining documentation and evidence collected during the raids. These findings could lead to further legal actions, including charges under anti-corruption laws. The case highlights the persistent challenges in ensuring transparency and accountability in public service, prompting calls for stricter monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
