Bengaluru: In a major statewide crackdown, the Karnataka Lokayukta police on Tuesday conducted simultaneous raids at 10 locations across the State, targeting government officials suspected of accumulating assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. The extensive operation spanned Bengaluru, Mandya, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Davangere, Dharwad, Bidar and Haveri, marking one of the most coordinated anti-corruption actions in recent months.
Key search at Electronics City RTO superintendent’s residence
Among the most high-profile targets was Kumaraswamy P, the Superintendent of the Electronics City Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Bengaluru. Lokayukta teams arrived early in the morning and searched his residence and associated premises. Officers examined property documents, bank statements, lockers, vehicles and digital records to ascertain whether the official possessed assets beyond his legitimate income.
Kumaraswamy has been under scrutiny following complaints alleging that he amassed wealth disproportionate to his earnings during his service at the RTO, a department frequently under the scanner for bribery-linked irregularities. Officials said the searches are part of an ongoing investigation triggered by intelligence inputs and preliminary findings.
Raids across Mandya, Bidar, Mysuru, Dharwad, Shivamogga, Davangere and Haveri
The Lokayukta also simultaneously targeted several other government officers across Karnataka. The officials under investigation include:
- Puttaswamy C, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), City Municipal Council, Mandya
- Prem Singh, Chief Engineer, Upper Krishna Project, Bidar
- Ramaswamy C, Revenue Inspector, Hootgalli Municipality, Mysuru
- Subhash Chandra, Assistant Professor, Karnatak University, Dharwad
- Sathish, Senior Veterinary Examiner, Primary Veterinary Clinic, Huilagol, Dharwad
- Lakshmipathi C N, First Division Assistant (FDA), SIMS Medical College, Shivamogga
- Prabhu J, Assistant Director, Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Davangere
- Girish D M, Assistant Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (PWD), Mysuru/Madikeri
- Shekappa, Executive Engineer, Project Director’s Office, Haveri
Team after team of officers inspected households, offices, farmhouses and ancestral properties linked to the accused officials. According to Lokayukta sources, the raids were launched based on credible information and months of surveillance.
Investigators examine documents, cash, gold and property records
During the operation, officers scrutinised property records, bank deposits, loan entries, business partnerships, movable assets, and digital devices. The aim, officials said, was to determine whether the standard of living and asset ownership of the officers matched their declared income.
Searches are understood to have yielded several crucial documents, although officials have not yet shared specific details, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. In previous Lokayukta operations, such raids have unearthed unaccounted cash running into lakhs, gold jewellery, high-value vehicles and benami properties.
A senior Lokayukta officer stated that all recovered materials will be catalogued and analysed before appropriate charges are framed.
Anti-corruption drive gathers momentum in Karnataka
The latest crackdown comes amid renewed public demand for transparency and accountability in government functioning. Karnataka Lokayukta, strengthened after the dismantling of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) last year, has intensified its vigilance and increased the number of suo motu investigations.
Officials familiar with the probe said the aim is not only to detect illegal assets but also to deter corruption in public offices. Departments such as the RTO, PWD, municipal councils and revenue offices have historically been flagged for irregularities, prompting the Lokayukta to closely monitor them.
Searches expected to continue as teams compile findings
As of Tuesday evening, searches were still underway at several premises. Once the tally of assets is complete, the Lokayukta will compare them with the officials’ declared income, investment patterns and tax filings. If unexplained assets exceed permissible limits, disproportionate assets (DA) cases may be formally registered.
The Lokayukta is expected to release a preliminary report after collating findings from all 10 locations. Further action, including arrests or notices, will depend on the strength of the evidence collected.
The large-scale operation underscores the State’s commitment to curbing corruption and signals more such actions in the coming months.