Karnataka Lokayukta seizes assets worth Rs 22 crore in raids on 9 government officials

One of the largest seizures was from Prakash V, a retired Divisional Mechanical Engineer with Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) in Ramanagara, with assets valued at Rs 4.26 crore. His seized properties included eight land sites, six houses, and six acre of agricultural land, along with jewellery and vehicles.

In Belagavi, Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes Venkatesh S Majumdar was found to have assets totalling Rs 2.21 crore, including two houses, a gas storage godown, agricultural land, and valuable ornaments.

In another case, Raveendra Kumar, a Deputy Director in Bidar, was found with assets worth Rs 4.22 crore, including seven sites, five houses, 10 acre of agricultural land, and a collection of valuable items.

In Haveri, Assistant Engineer Kashinath Buddappa Bhajantri of the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department held assets worth Rs 3.2 crore, comprising six land sites, two houses, five acre of land, cash, jewellery, and vehicles.

Other officials investigated include Kamal Raj, an Assistant Director with the Commerce and Industrial Department in Davanagere, who was found with assets valued at Rs 1.99 crore; and Nagesh D, a Public Relations Officer in the Mysuru City Corporation, whose assets were estimated at Rs 2.72 crore.

The Lokayukta Police also conducted searches on Govindappa Hanumanthappa Bhajantri, an Assistant Secretary with the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) in Dharwad, seizing assets worth Rs 2.79 crore, including cash, jewellery, and agricultural land.

Additionally, Vittal Shivappa Dhavaleshwar, a Village Administrative Officer from the Revenue Department in Belagavi, was found with assets worth Rs 1.08 crore. His holdings included agricultural land, cash, and vehicles.

The ninth official, identified as Kamalraj PH from the Davanagere district’s Commerce and Industrial Department, held assets worth Rs 1.99 crore.