Currency exchange racket: Five arrested

The Lokayukta police searched a house in Malleswaram on Saturday evening and seized 300 files pertaining to BBMP works for the financial year 2013-14. Sources said that Executive Engineer (Rajarajeshwarinagar) Ideya Vendon ran a parallel BBMP office at the house along with an office clerk and three private contractors.

Based on a complaint, Lokayukta police registered a FIR and searched the house in Malleswaram. Executive Engineer Ideya Vendon, his office clerk Shylaja and three contractors Raghavendra, Neeraj and Jayaram were in the house.

On searching the premises, the police recovered cash of Rs 1.25 lakh from Raghavendra and Rs 25,000 from Neeraj. “There was a complaint about fraudulent act in the house in Malleswaram. Around 300 files pertaining to BBMP works  were found. The files are being scrutinised and probe is on to trace the owner of the house,” a senior police officer said.

Vendon was arrested by BMTF in 2011 in connection with the fake bills scam in asphalting work at three divisions – Gandhinagar, Maleswaram and Rajarajeshwarinagar. He was then Executive Engineer of Malleswaram division.

The case was later transferred to CID. Scam in these divisions was estimated at Rs 1,539 crore. The Executive Engineer was placed under suspension. He was reinstated at Rajarajeshwarinagar division.