This PWD chief engineer runs a biz firm, owns 2 commercial complexes

The Lokayukta police on Thursday raided a chief engineer in the Public Works Department (Communication and Buildings) for owning illegal assets worth Rs 5 crore, including a business firm here.

The chief engineer, A N Thyagaraja, owns a house, two flats, as many commercial complexes and six sites in the City. He owns a house in Yelahanka (Rs 60 lakh) and two flats, one at Yelahanka (Rs 17 lakh) and another at Nagashettyhalli (Rs 2.21 crore), a senior officer in the Lokayukta police said.

He also owns sites at Kammanahalli (Rs 13 lakh) and Yelahanka (Rs 9.50 lakh). The Lokayukta police also found documents which show that Thyagaraja bought land at four different locations in Kundalahalli near Devanahalli (all worth Rs 2 crore).

“The accused owns two commercial complexes at KR Puram and Sadashivanagar worth about Rs 55 lakh. On verification, it was found that he had also floated a company for testing of building materials, by name Karnataka Test House Pvt Ltd. His wife and parents are directors in the company which was started in 1989. Probe is on in this regard. The company has its office in Gokul 1st stage on Triveni Road in Yeshwantpur,” an official said.

The Lokayukta police have found Thyagaraja owning immovable assets worth Rs 5.88 crore and movable assets worth Rs 1.66 crore, including 2.7 kg of gold worth Rs 69 lakh, bank balance of Rs 37 lakh and two cars worth Rs 20 lakh.

Raids were also conducted on the premises of eight government officials across the State. They are: Assistant Engineer of Town Development Authority in Bagalkot, Mallikarjuna R Nayanegali; Manager at Karnataka State Co-Operative Marketing Federation Ltd in Bengaluru, Nagaiah A; Village Accountant Hirekodi in Belagavi, Sidharth Bhupal Shingadi; Account Superintendent Public Works, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department in Chikkodi in Belagavi, Krishna Mahadevappa Karmadi; Range Forest officer at Madikeri, Balakrishna M; Assistant Director Kannada and Culture Department in Mandya, K N Annegowda and Assistant Sub-Inspector at Bidadi police station, G Jagadeesh.

The raids were conducted at 18 premises in Bengaluru, Bagalkot, Belagavi, Kodagu, Mysuru and Ramanagar. The Lokayukta police unearthed illegal assets worth Rs 9.5 crore.