Times of India

Bangalore, Nov 4: In a massive operation, the Lok Ayukta police on Saturday raided the offices and residences of 13 government officers — seven police officers, five motor vehicle inspectors and one assistant executive engineer — and detected unaccounted cash, jewellery, vehicles and immovable properties amounting to several crores. 

Of the 13 officers, 10 are from Bangalore, two from Bellary and one from Bidar. The Lok Ayukta officers found that the accused officers owned commercial complexes, palatial bungalows, sites, agricultural land, gold and silver jewellery, posh cars and lakhs of rupees in bank accounts. Cases have been registered against these officers under the Prevention of Corruption Act. 

The Lok Ayukta had never conducted simultaneous raids on so many officers in its history. Lok Ayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde said the investigation into the present cases will be done on a time-bound manner.

OFFICERS UNDER THE SCANNER

Srinivasa Iyer, SP, APTS, Yelahanka

G T Ajjappa, ACP, Vidhana Soudha

Vishwanath Singh, ACP, Vidhana Soudha Security

H Siddappa, Inspector, Ramamurthynagar

Mariswamy Gowda, Inspector, City Special Branch

S B Mallikarjuna, Inspector, Traffic, Upparpet

Purushotham, Inspector, Kadugodi

Balachandra Rao, Inspector, RTO, Yeshwanthpur

Ishwara Naik, Motor Vehicle Inspector, Rajajinagar

M Lakshman, Motor Vehicle Inspector, Devanahalli

Shankarappa, Motor Vehicle Inspector, Bellary

Siddeshwara, Motor Vehicle Inspector, Bellary

Lakshman Rao, Assistant Executive Engineer, Karanja Project, Janawada, Bidar

‘Improve exam system or revert to annual scheme’

Bangalore, Nov 4: In wake of the hue and cry by teachers over the semester system, which has thrown the academic calender off gear, Bangalore University is likely to take up the issue at the next Inter-University Board (IUB) meeting. 

Briefing reporters after a syndicate meeting on Saturday, vice-chancellor H A Ranganath said, “There is little choice but to improve the examination system or revert to the annual scheme of things.” 

However, decision can’t be taken at the university level and will be taken up at the IUB meeting. 

“It’s a UGC recommendation that all universities in the country follow the semester scheme. We can’t revert to the annual system in haste. All related aspects have to be discussed threadbare. Our problem is acute shortage of qualified valuators,’’ he explained.

Merit list for research scholars

After a break of over 4 years, BU has conducted the entrance test for Ph.D programmes as per the new regulations that received the governor’s assent in 2005. Ranganath informed that the merit and vacancy lists were being prepared to facilitate the process of admissions for research scholars. 

He further felt the need for initiating M.Phil programmes, which is one of the prerequisites for taking up to lecturership. 

“The issue has been brought up for discussion at a meeting of all Deans and we have sought suggestions from them. This is to incorporate the M.Phil programme in the semester system, which poses a lot of hindrance,’’ he mentioned.