BENGALURU: The Karnataka Lokayukta on Wednesday carried out a statewide anti-corruption operation, conducting simultaneous raids at more than 53 locations linked to 10 government officials accused of possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.Officials said the searches unearthed assets worth approximately Rs 49.83 crore, including immovable properties valued at Rs 37.95 crore and movable assets worth Rs 11.88 crore, news agency PTI reported.The raids were conducted at residences and other premises in Bengaluru City, Bengaluru South, Raichur, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Shivamogga and Kalaburagi as part of an ongoing disproportionate assets investigation.Among those raided, Basangoud Patil, an executive engineer with Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd in Raichur, was found to possess the highest value of assets, estimated at Rs 9.44 crore.He was followed by Narendra Kumar, executive engineer in the public works department, Bengaluru, with assets worth Rs 8.51 crore; Pushpa DR, deputy director (Administration) at the agricultural produce market committee (APMC), Bengaluru, with Rs 8.15 crore; and Praveen B Sri Hari, superintendent engineer at KRIDL’s Bengaluru Range Office, with assets valued at Rs 5.88 crore.The remaining officials were found to possess assets ranging between Rs 1.95 crore and Rs 3.98 crore, according to Lokayukta officials.Those searched include Shankar M, assistant professor at the University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Chitradurga; Duggappa BH, range forest officer in the watershed development department, Chitradurga; Madhusudhan N, assistant engineer in the minor irrigation department, Tumakuru; Thimme Gowda, Panchayat development officer (PDO) at Kumbalagodu Gram Panchayat in Bengaluru South; Kiran Angadi, assistant conservator of forests in Shivamogga; and Amrut Rao, assistant executive engineer (Electrical) with GESCOM in Kalaburagi.The Lokayukta said the coordinated searches formed part of its ongoing efforts to investigate allegations of disproportionate assets against public servants. Further investigation is underway to determine the source of the wealth and whether it exceeds their known sources of income.(With agency inputs)
