Raids find IAS officer owning huge wealth

The Lokayukta police on Friday conducted raids on the premises of five government officials including IAS officer Syed Zameer Pasha, who is set to retire shortly.

The extent of Pasha’s disproportionate assets has been pegged at a staggering 2.72 times of his known income.

Police also raided the houses of Lakshman Rao Peshwe, Managing Director of Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited, Mruthyunjaya B Burji, Additional Secretary of PWD, Kenche Gowda, Police Inspector of Yelahanka police station, and G Nagaraj, Accounts Controller at Bescom.

Lokayukta investigators have found that Pasha owns two properties in Richmond town, a house in Magadi road, 25 acres of agricultural land in Magadi, two flats –  at Tilaknagar and at Koramangala, a flat in his son’s name in Kadugodi and a site in his daughter’s name in HSR Layout. The registration value of all the property is said to be Rs 3.4 crore.

In addition, Pasha also owns four educational institutions in Magadi and Ramanagara and his family members are trustees of these institutions. Gold weighing 2.5 kg was also found, apart from several  bank accounts and vehicles. 

Addressing a press conference later in the day, Additional Director General of Police, Lokayukta, H N Sathyanara­yana Rao said the police “had no intention of maligning anybody”, but would investigate any government official, if a complaint was lodged.

Stating that the investigations were in progress and would continue on Saturday, Rao appreciated the work of the Lokayukta police officers of Bangalore division.

“We have more court referred cases and we have to give report to the court from time to time. Despite that we have been able to conduct these investigations and raids due to the efforts of the officers of Bangalore urban and rural,” he said.