Lokayukta raids in K'taka uncover Rs 22.5 crore in disproportionate assets of eight govt officers
Bengaluru: Lokayukta searches on the premises of eight government officers across the state on reportedly found disproportionate assets worth a staggering Rs 22.5 crore. The simultaneous raids were conducted at the residences, offices, and residences of the relatives of the eight government officers in more than 37 places across seven districts.
The highest-value assets were found with Prakash V, a retired Divisional Mechanical Engineer from KSRTC, Ramanagara, as reported by Deccan Herald on Wednesday. Officials found that Prakash owned eight plots, six houses and six acres of agricultural land valued at Rs 3.97 crore. His movable assets, including Rs 15 lakh in cash, were valued at Rs 28.17 lakh, the Lokayukta said in a statement.
During the searches at four places linked to Kashinath Buddappa Bhajantri, Assistant Engineer, Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation, Hirekerur, officials found that the suspected government official disposed around Rs 9 lakh in cash, out of the washroom window, which was later recovered. Officials found that Bhajantri possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the tune of Rs 3.20 crore, the report added.
The others raided were Vittal Shivappa Dhavaleshwar, Village Administrative Officer, Revenue Department, Nippani Taluk, Belagavi (total assets: Rs 1.08 crore); Venkatesh S. Majumdar, Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Commercial Tax Department, Bengaluru (Rs 2.21 crore); Kamal Raj, Assistant Director, Commerce and Industrial Department, District Industrial Centre, Industrial Area, Davangere (Rs 1.99 crore); Raveendra Kumar, Deputy Director (Deputy Tahsildar), Training Centre, Bidar (Rs 4.22 crore); Nagesh D, Public Relations Officer, Mysuru City Corporation (Rs 2.72 crore), and Govindappa Hanumanthappa Bhajantri, Assistant Secretary, KIADB, Dharwad (Rs 2.79 crore).
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Two held in UP's Bijnor for contact with Pakistan linked Dubai handler
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Bijnor (PTI): Two men were arrested in this Uttar Pradesh district on Friday for allegedly being in touch with a Pakistan-linked handler based in Dubai, police said.
Circle Officer, Najibabad, Anjani Kumar Chaturvedi said Uvaid Malik and Jalal Haider were arrested following inputs on their alleged links with Aqib, a resident of Meerut currently staying in Dubai.
According to police, Aqib had earlier come into the spotlight after a video surfaced on Instagram purportedly showing him displaying an AK-47 rifle and explosives.
During interrogation, the arrested men allegedly told police that Aqib used to incite youngsters against Hindus and encourage anti-national activities, the officer said, adding that detailed questioning of the accused is underway.
On April 6, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Jha said the video first surfaced in November last year. Aqib, a native of Sathla village in the Mawana area of Meerut, was allegedly seen in the video brandishing weapons.
Following the viral clip, a case was registered at the Nangal police station by sub-inspector Vinod Kumar. However, the then station house officer and investigating officer Satyendra Singh had recorded Aqib's statement and filed a final report, stating that the weapons seen in the video were toys, effectively giving him a clean chit.
Police said fresh developments have now revealed Aqib's suspicious links and the probe has been handed over to the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).
The SP said action has been taken against the officials concerned, with the then SHO and investigating officer suspended and Circle Officer Nitesh Pratap Singh removed from his post.
