Lokayukta raids unearth Rs 45.14 cr disproportionate assets held by 11 govt officers in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Jul 11: Lokayukta sleuths on Thursday conducted raids at 56 places across the state and found that 11 government officers and engineers had amassed assets worth Rs 45.14 crore that are disproportionate to their known sources of income, the office of the Lokayukta said.
In an early morning operation, about 100 officials carried out simultaneous raids in nine districts against government officers who allegedly accumulated disproportionate assets (DA).
The superintendents of the districts supervised the raids and carried out searches in 56 locations.
ALSO READ: Lokayukta sleuths raid govt officers and engineers in disproportionate assets case in Karnataka
The officers who were raided include Assistant Executive Engineer in Panchayat Raj Engineering Department in Belagavi D Mahadev Bannur, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited Executive Engineer D H Umesh, Assistant Executive Engineer at BESCOM Vigilance Police Station in Davangere M S Prabhakar, Belagavi Nirmiti Kendra Project Director Shekhar Gouda Kuradgi, Retired PWD Chief Engineer M Ravindra, and PWD Chief Engineer K G Jagadeesh, a statement issued by the Lokayukta said.
The other officers are retired Executive Engineer of the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Mandya S Shivaraju, Harohalli Tahsildar in Ramanagara Vijayanna, Superintending Engineer in Irrigation Department Mahesh K, Panchayat secretary N M Jagadeesh and Mahadevapura Revenue Officer Division of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Basavaraj Magi.
According to the Lokayukta office, Shekhar Gouda Kuradgi was found to be in possession of the highest amount of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income -- worth Rs 7.88 crore -- among those raided on Thursday.
Officers found having DA of above Rs five crore are Umesh, Ravindra, K G Jagadeesh and Shivaraju, it added.
In all, the 11 officers were found to be in possession of Rs 45.14 crore worth DA, the statement said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Will speak to KSCA officials, says Shivakumar on K'taka MLAs' demand for IPL tickets
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Friday that he will speak to KSCA authorities regarding "accommodating" MLAs during IPL matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, a day after legislators across party lines raised the issue of improper ticket and seating arrangements for them at the city's premier venue.
After the issue was raised in the Assembly on Thursday, Speaker U T Khader had asked the government to ensure that every MLA receives four VIP tickets at the stadium during matches. The members had alleged they were treated with "disrespect" by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which manages the venue.
"MLAs have a right, because they are part of the system, they are part of the government. Earlier also some respect had been given to all of them. With a lot of difficulty and all the pressure we have permitted them," he said in an apparent reference to the KSCA being allowed to hold matches after last year's stampede incident during RCB's IPL victory celebrations that left 11 persons dead and many injured.
"Though I may be a member (of KSCA), that's a different question, that's in my personal capacity," Shivakumar told reporters.
"I will speak to the President and others (at KSCA), I want to see that our MLAs are accommodated. Today I'm on that job," he added.
Khader on Thursday issued the direction to the government after several MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka from the BJP, claimed they were given just one ticket and not provided proper seating facilities during matches. Some members also demanded a separate lounge for legislators at the stadium.
The issue came up in the House days ahead of reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening fixture of IPL 2026 here on March 28.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya criticised the MLAs for "pleading for tickets" for the marquee event.
"Had the Karnataka MLAs spent time in the Vidhana Soudha (Assembly) discussing safety and security preparedness for IPL fans, it would have upheld the dignity of the House. Instead, we saw MLAs pleading and even threatening for free tickets for themselves and their families."
This is not just a poor priority and exposes a deeper problem - "a VIP mindset that sees public office as entitlement."
"Why should any sports body owe MLAs anything. Why should elected representatives expect privileges denied to ordinary citizens," he asked.
Asserting that the public office is not a privilege and that it is a responsibility, the Bengaluru South MP said, "This culture must end."
Responding, Shivakumar said, "Let Mr Tejasvi Surya give his gyan (advice) to his party members, not me."
