Karnataka: Lokayukta raids properties linked 4 govt officials

Bengaluru: Four government officials in Karnataka faced a simultaneous raid on their properties on Thursday by the Karnataka Lokayukta, PTI reported.

According to Lokayukta sources, the raids were conducted in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Chikkaballapur, Davanagere, Mandya, and other locations across the state, as IANS reported.

Searches were as part of investigations into disproportionate cases, which went on at 25 locations linked to the four officials, IANS reported.

The officials are Krishnaveni M C, a Senior Geologist, Mines and Geology Department; Mahesh, Managing Director of Kaveri Neeravari Nigama's Surface Water Data Center; N K Thippeswamy, Director of Town and Country Planning; and Mohan K, Excise Superintendent at the office of the Joint Commissioner of Excise.

The residences and offices of a director attached to the Bengaluru Urban Planning Department were raided in the state capital and other locations. The sleuths have also been raiding his wife's residences in Davanagere and surrounding areas. Lokayukta Inspector Prabhu and his team were conducting raids.

As per sources, a team headed by Lokayukta SP Srinath Joshi was conducting raids at the unnamed director's house in Bengaluru, where a large proportion of gold and silver was found.

The residences of a Managing Director of the Cauvery, Neeravari Nigama and his relatives in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and Malavalli were raided simultaneously. The sleuths also raided the petrol bunk in KRS village, which was owned by the wife of the Managing Director.

The residence of a woman officer attached to the Mining and Geology department in Mangaluru city has also been raided. Sources stated that the officer was transferred to the post two months ago from Chikkaballapura town. The officers verify documents at the office and at home.

The villa and properties of an SP attached to the State Excise department in Vajarahalli were being raided. A team of 15 officers was conducting raids, and the officers took his wife to the bank.

Lokayukta officials are verifying documents, assets and valuables, they added.