Lokayukta raids Cong corporator

The Lokayukta police on Friday raided the properties of Congress corporator Gowramma (ward no 141-Azadnagar) and seized gold and documents related to several properties.

This is the first time the Lokayukta police conducted a raid on a corporator based on their own information and not a complaint. Police have recovered documents pertaining to nearly 40 properties and the total worth of all the assets at the sale deed value is estimated to be Rs 16.5 crore.

The raids which began at 6.30 am, were led by Superintendent of Police U P Shivarama Reddy and the team comprising DySPs Dr Ashwini, H S Manjunath, VPM Swamy, Palakshaiah and Inspectors Ravishankar, Poovaiah and Shivashankar.

Of the four places raided in Chamarajapet, two belonged to Gowramma and her husband Govindaraju, one to Govindaraju’s driver Prakash, and another to their neighbour and associate Yamaiah, an autodriver. Police found gold weighing 3.5 kg worth Rs 48.61 lakh and silver weighing 21 kg worth Rs 5.27 lakh. Besides, Rs 3.83 lakh in cash was also found in Gowramma’s house.

Documents related to 16 properties were found in a plastic cover in the bathroom at the driver’s house.

Sources said Prakash, initially denied he was the driver and did not open the door of his house for at least 15 minutes. The search initially yielded nothing. However, before leaving the house, the police noticed a rope hanging outside the window of the bathroom. When the rope was pulled in, the police found a plastic bag tied to its end containing the documents pertaining to various properties belonging to Gowramma and Govindaraju.

At Yamaiah’s house, police have recovered documents pertaining to investments made in Kumbalagodu Gollahalli, on converted lands measuring in total six acres and 20 guntas.

The police found the documents pertaining to three sites in Chamarajapet worth Rs 2.21 crore, a building each in Nanjamba Agrahara, Ramachandra Agrahara and Weaver’s Colony estimated to be worth Rs 7.76 crore.

The couple also own land at 16 different places in Bangalore rural and Mysore. Some of the properties owned by the couple are sites in Girinagar, Srinagar and Nagarbhavi, a 60x40 site in Chamarajapet under construction and worth Rs 80 lakh, choultries in Shimsha, eight acres of agricultural land in Manchenahalli, 2.5 acres in Kambipura and more land in Nelamangala taluk. Seven bank accounts belonging to the couple are also being scrutinised.

While a complaint has been lodged against Gowramma, the police are likely to take up investigation against Govindraju, if sufficient documents were found, during his service as a government employee from 1993 to 2006. Govindraju joined as group ‘D’ employee in 1993 and took voluntary retirement in 2006.

In 2003, he became the secretary of the group ‘D’ employees’ association and was involved in the formation of a layout in Sunkadakatte, where several by laws were violated. As a Congress worker, he got Gowramma to contest from the Azadnagar ward reserved for women.