Lokayukta raids on seven officials unearth Rs 22.78 cr disproportionate assets in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The surprise raids launched by the Karnataka Lokayukta police on Thursday on seven government officials unearthed Rs 22.78 crore assets disproportionate to their known sources of income, officials said.

The simultaneous searches at the residences, offices and residences of the relatives of the concerned government officers were conducted at more than 35 places in Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Tumkur, Mangaluru, Vijayapura and Yadagir in connection with the disproportionate assets (DA) cases.

During the raids, the officers uncovered Rs 16.48 crore worth of sites, houses and land, Rs 33.68 lakh in cash, Rs 2.44 crore worth of jewellery and Rs 96.42 lakh worth of vehicles.

The most disproportionate assets at Rs 5.74 crore were found with Rajashekhara D, Planning Director at Nirmithi Kendra in Tumkur. Officers said he had 12 sites, four houses and four acres of agricultural land, all worth Rs 3.89 crore. The remaining were movable assets like cash, jewellery and vehicles, the officials said.

HR Nataraj, Legal Metrology Inspector, City Market-1 Sub Division, Bengaluru, had the second-most assets disproportionate to his income at Rs 3.94 crore. Lokayukta searches found that Nataraj possesses immovable assets like land and houses valued at Rs 3.13 crore. His movable assets were valued at Rs 81.50 lakh, officials said.

The others raided were Manjunatha M R, Survey Supervisor, UPOR Office, Mangaluru (Rs 2.56 crore DA); Renuka Satarle, former District Manager, Dr BR Ambedkar Development Limited, Vijayapura (Rs 3.10 crore); Murali TV, Additional Director, Town Planning, BDA, Bengaluru (Rs 3.47 crore); Anantha Kumar, SDA, Hosakote Taluk Office, Bengaluru Rural (Rs 1.96 crore); and Umakanth Halle, Tahashildar, Shahapura Taluk, Yadagir (Rs 1.98 crore).