Bengaluru, Jun 12 (DHNS): The Lokayukta police on Thursday raided a chief engineer in the Public Works Department (Communication and Buildings) for owning illegal assets worth Rs 5 crore, including a business firm here.
The chief engineer, A N Thyagaraja, owns a house, two flats, as many commercial complexes and six sites in the City. He owns a house in Yelahanka (Rs 60 lakh) and two flats, one at Yelahanka (Rs 17 lakh) and another at Nagashettyhalli (Rs 2.21 crore), a senior officer in the Lokayukta police said.
The commercial complex at Sadashivanagar owned by Thyagaraja
He also owns sites at Kammanahalli (Rs 13 lakh) and Yelahanka (Rs 9.50 lakh). The Lokayukta police also found documents which show that Thyagaraja bought land at four different locations in Kundalahalli near Devanahalli (all worth Rs 2 crore).
“The accused owns two commercial complexes at KR Puram and Sadashivanagar worth about Rs 55 lakh. On verification, it was found that he had also floated a company for testing of building materials, by name Karnataka Test House Pvt Ltd. His wife and parents are directors in the company which was started in 1989. Probe is on in this regard. The company has its office in Gokul 1st stage on Triveni Road in Yeshwantpur,” an official said.
The Lokayukta police have found Thyagaraja owning immovable assets worth Rs 5.88 crore and movable assets worth Rs 1.66 crore, including 2.7 kg of gold worth Rs 69 lakh, bank balance of Rs 37 lakh and two cars worth Rs 20 lakh.
Other raids
Raids were also conducted on the premises of eight government officials across the State. They are: Assistant Engineer of Town Development Authority in Bagalkot, Mallikarjuna R Nayanegali; Manager at Karnataka State Co-Operative Marketing Federation Ltd in Bengaluru, Nagaiah A; Village Accountant Hirekodi in Belagavi, Sidharth Bhupal Shingadi; Account Superintendent Public Works, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department in Chikkodi in Belagavi, Krishna Mahadevappa Karmadi; Range Forest officer at Madikeri, Balakrishna M; Assistant Director Kannada and Culture Department in Mandya, K N Annegowda and Assistant Sub-Inspector at Bidadi police station, G Jagadeesh.
The raids were conducted at 18 premises in Bengaluru, Bagalkot, Belagavi, Kodagu, Mysuru and Ramanagar. The Lokayukta police unearthed illegal assets worth Rs 9.5 crore.
Puttur: Lokayukta raids residences of range forest officer, unearths cash, gold
Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Jun 12: Lokayukta teams, working under the guidance of Lokayukta superintendent of police, H D Mendonca, simultaneously raided Sampaje office of Balakrishna Acharya, range forest officer of Sampaje in Kodagu, his residential quarters provided by the government, as well as his private bungalow located at Bolwarbail in the town on Thursday June 11.
The palatial house in the town had been constructed a year back. The value of this building including the site is put at about Rs 90 lac. During the raid at this place, about 500 grams of gold ornaments and Rs 3.5 lac in cash were unearthed, it is gathered.
The Lokayukta officials are also learnt to have checked the contents of bank lockers held by Acharya. They also have confiscated cash certificates and ATM cards found from an almirah in his Puttur residence.
Balakrishna Acharya had joined forest department in the capacity of deputy range forest officer in 1986. He was promoted to the post of range forest officer in 1996. The raids were conducted on the basis of a complaint which said that value of assets held by Acharya exceed his known sources of income.
The officials have refused to divulge any details of the raid, adding that all details would be furnished by the Lokayukta office in Bengaluru. Lokayukta deputy superintendents of police, Vittaldas Pai and Nagesh Shetty, inspectors, Navinchandra Jogi, Krioshnananda, and other personnel had taken part in the raids.