A day before the Kolar-Chikkaballapur DCC Bank board elections, Lokayukta officials conducted simultaneous raids at nine locations, including the bank’s head office, its Chintamani branch, and the residence of former bank president Byalahalli M Govindagowda. Documents linked to an alleged ₹11 crore scam tied to the state loan waiver scheme were seized, though no crucial records were found at Govindagowda’s home.
Voting for 12 board director posts is set for May 28. Govindagowda, who is contesting again, is under fire for his previous tenure, which is now at the center of Lokayukta’s probe. The timing of the raids — just a day before polls — has stirred political suspicion.
The raids followed an FIR and court-approved search warrants. A recent green signal from Bengaluru Regional Commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas allowed Lokayukta to dig deeper into the fraud case, which had previously been stalled by the Joint Registrar.
During the searches, officers seized financial records from 2016–2020. The alleged scam involved fake documents and benami SHGs created to siphon off money meant for farmers.
Govindagowda responded stoically, stating: “Let Lokayukta investigate. The law will do its job.”
Notably, seven FIRs have been filed against him, though he secured interim High Court stays in each. A faction within Congress is also demanding action, accusing party rivals of a ₹400 crore scam.
As election day nears, the scandal has turned political, deepening internal rifts in the Congress camp.
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