Lokayukta Raids Eight Karnataka Officials, Uncovering Rs 5 Crore in Bengaluru

Lokayukta officials on Tuesday conducted anti-corruption raids on eight government officials across Karnataka, including in Bengaluru and Yelahanka, after booking cases of disproportionate assets against them. The searches uncovered assets worth crores of rupees, with a town planning official in Bengaluru topping the list with nearly Rs 5 crore in assets.

The statewide operation targeted public servants across various departments. Among those raided in the Bengaluru region was Uday Kumar MB, an assistant executive engineer with the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) stationed in Yelahanka. Investigators estimated his assets to be worth nearly Rs 4 crore.

The highest value of disproportionate assets uncovered during the Tuesday raids was linked to Rajanna SL, the additional director of town planning at the Karnataka Housing Board in Bengaluru. His assets were valued at approximately Rs 5 crore.

The raids also targeted N Siddeshwar Hebbal, the chief mechanical engineer of the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), who was found with assets worth Rs 2.6 crore.

In other parts of the state, Lokayukta officials searched the properties of Manik S Kanakatte, a superintendent engineer with the Public Works Department (PWD) in Kalaburagi, uncovering assets worth Rs 4.9 crore. KS Mohan, an assistant conservator of forests in Chikkamagaluru, was found with assets valued at Rs 3.6 crore.

Other officials under investigation include Harshavardhan PN, a deputy conservator of forests in Davanagere, with assets worth Rs 2.7 crore; Sanna Kenchappa, a superintendent engineer with Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) in Belagavi, with assets worth Rs 2.5 crore; and Krishna Naik LA, secretary to the Bayaluseeme Area Development Board in Chitradurga, who held assets worth Rs 2.5 crore.