Lokayukta sleuths raid eight govt officers in disproportionate assets case
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Lokayukta sleuths on Tuesday conducted simultaneous raids on eight government officers across the state in connection with alleged disproportionate assets cases, officials said.
According to Lokayukta sources, the raids were carried out in the morning at the residences and offices of at least eight officials serving in different departments and districts, including Kodagu, Bidar and Mysuru.
Among those searched is I K Puttaswamy, an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) posted at Harangi Dam sub-division in Kodagu district.
In Bidar, searches were conducted against Suresh K L, retired Finance Controller at the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Nandinagar.
Officials said Shivanna, Deputy Director in the Fisheries Department in Ballari, was also covered under the operation.
In Mysuru, premises linked to Kiran Kumar, Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department, were searched.
In Chitradurga, raids were conducted against Susheelamma, a retired accounts assistant, while in Mangaluru, Babu B N, serving as an Assistant Drug Controller, was among those targeted.
Similarly, in Shivamogga, Shobha K R, District Officer at the Backward Classes Welfare Department and Ajay Singh, Assistant Executive Engineer in the District Urban Development Cell, were also subjected to searches.
"A coordinated operation was launched this morning against multiple officials suspected to have amassed assets disproportionate to their known sources of income," a Lokayukta official said.
"The searches are being carried out at several locations simultaneously and are still in progress," the official added.
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Focus on Vijay's poll promises; TVK assured 8 gm gold for women
Chennai (PTI): As the new-entrant TVK appears likely to emerge as the single largest party and form the government, the focus has now turned into actor-politician Vijay's poll promises, including 8 gm gold for marriage, which is worth about Rs 14,000 per gram (22 carat).
Vijay's assurances in the party manifesto include Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women below 60 years, 8 gm gold for marriage and six free cooking gas cylinders a year, per family.
By 3 PM, as per EC data, Vijay's party is leading in 105 constituencies and it falls short of a simple majority (118) in the Assembly.
The actor-turned-politician also assured a quality silk saree in addition to gold for indigent brides and interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh for women-run SHGs. He assured corruption-free good governance if voted to power in his maiden electoral fight.
The manifesto also laid importance on education. To prevent school dropouts, mothers or guardians of children studying in government and state-aided schools will receive Rs 15,000 annually.
Vijay promised 100 special residential schools named after iconic leader K Kamaraj, credited with revolutionising education in the state, and higher education loans of up to Rs 20 lakh. The TVK founder also assured AI Ministry, AI University and AI City.
The manifesto placed a strong emphasis on agrarian welfare, too.
The party promised a full waiver of agricultural cooperative crop loans for farmers owning less than five acres of land, while those holding more than five acres will receive a 50 per cent waiver. Additionally, the party promised a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,500 per tonne for sugarcane.
Addressing youth unemployment, Vijay pledged to create five lakh new government jobs and offer as many stipendiary internships. Unemployed graduates will be provided a monthly aid of up to Rs 4,000. For government employees, the party assured consideration of the Old Pension Scheme and the regularisation of contract workers, including nurses.
On the health front, he promised a drug-free Tamil Nadu. Vijay also committed to modernising hospitals, providing free annual health checkups, and introducing a Rs 25 lakh family health insurance scheme.
The manifesto also included a Rs 3,000 monthly pension for the elderly and the differently-abled, 200 units of free power, patta (land deed) regularisation, and 100 per cent piped drinking water supply for all households.
Some of the policy intereventions promised by TVK include a legal guarantee to provide essential government services like community certificates, and land pattas, within a strictly specified timeframe.
Vijay also promised doorstep delivery of governance by implementing a system to deliver services, such as ration supplies, directly to the people. He also assured that ease of doing business will be paramount to his government and promised a strict guarantee that business licences will be issued within 21 days.
Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu were held on April 23.
