Bengaluru, June 24: In a major statewide crackdown, the Karnataka Lokayukta on Tuesday launched simultaneous raids at multiple locations linked to government officials suspected of possessing assets far exceeding their known sources of income. The early morning operation spanned several districts, including Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Anekal, Gadag, Dharwad, and Kalaburagi.
Raids were carried out at residences, offices, and other premises associated with eight officials from various departments. Those under investigation include Prakash, an assistant engineer with BBMP posted in Govindraj Nagar, Bengaluru; Dr. S. Pradeep, associate research director for organic farming in Shivamogga; and Latha Mani, the accounts officer with the Chikkamagaluru town municipality.
Others targeted in the operation were KG Amarnath, chief officer of the Anekal town municipality in Bengaluru; Dhruvaraj, inspector of the town police station in Gadag; and Ashok Vasanad, an engineer affiliated with the Malaprabha Project in Dharwad.
The Lokayukta team also conducted searches at the premises of Mallikarjun Alipur, a former executive engineer from the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department in Kalaburagi, and Ramchandra, serving as a panchayat development officer in the same district.
Sources within the Lokayukta stated that the coordinated effort is part of an ongoing probe into illicit wealth accumulation by public servants. Detailed reports on seized materials and documents are awaited as the investigation continues.
