SHIVAMOGGA: In a stunning Lokayukta operation on Tuesday, sleuths led by SP Manjunath Chaudhary raided the residence of S. Pradeep, head of the Organic Agriculture Research Centre at Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, uncovering unaccounted assets worth ₹4.57 crore.

The raid, which began early morning and continued late into the night, revealed a lavish lifestyle allegedly funded by wealth far beyond known income sources. Among the assets found at Pradeep’s Shivamogga home were foreign currency from countries like the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia, 20 luxury watches, and an unusual collection of 50 pairs of branded slippers.

The team also discovered a variety of exotic birds and animals at Pradeep’s farmhouses in Bhadrapur (Shikaripur taluk) and Kerehalli hobli (Hosanagar taluk):

  • 4 German parrots (₹50,000/pair)

  • 10 swans (₹18,000/pair)

  • 7 cows, 41 ducks, 58 pigeons, 81 sheep, and 112 chickens

    • Real estate and agricultural properties in his name include:

    • A ₹1.2 crore house in Priyadarshini Layout, Shivamogga

  • Two plots in Bengaluru

  • A 5-acre arecanut plantation and farmhouse in Bhadrapur

  • An 11.7-acre plantation and farmhouse in Kalshettikoppa

    • Investigators also found:

    • Deposits worth ₹29.75 lakh

  • 2 cars, a tractor, and 3 motorcycles

  • 383g of gold worth ₹32.55 lakh and 2.75kg of silver worth ₹2.2 lakh

    • Pradeep, who has been heading the university’s organic research wing for 16 years, was reportedly attending a seminar in Nagpur at the time of the raid. Officials will open his bank locker at the Central Bank on Wednesday for further investigation.

    This raid is part of a larger statewide crackdown on disproportionate assets held by public officials across Karnataka.

    #LokayuktaCrackdown #KarnatakaCorruption #LuxuryLifestyleExposed #OrganicFraudAllegations