Karnataka Lokayukta searches 10 officials in disproportionate assets case, unearths Rs 49.83 crore

Bengaluru, Jul 8 (PTI) The Karnataka Lokayukta on Wednesday conducted simultaneous searches at over 53 locations across the state against 10 government officials in a disproportionate assets case. The searches led to the unearthing of assets worth about Rs 49.83 crore, officials said. Searches were carried out at the houses and premises linked to these officials in Bengaluru City, Bengaluru South, Raichur, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Shivamogga and Kalaburagi, they said. The assets include immovable properties valued at about Rs 37.95 crore and movable assets worth around Rs 11.88 crore. According to the Lokayukta, Basangoud Patil, Executive Engineer at Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd in Raichur, was found to have assets worth about Rs 9.44 crore—the highest among those raided. He was followed by Narendra Kumar, Executive Engineer at the Public Works Department in Bengaluru, with Rs 8.51 crore; Pushpa D R, Deputy Director (Administration) at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee in Bengaluru, with Rs 8.15 crore; and Praveen B Sri Hari, Superintendent Engineer at KRIDL, Bengaluru Range Office, with Rs 5.88 crore. The remaining officials were found to possess assets ranging from about Rs 1.95 crore to Rs 3.98 crore, it said. PTI AMP SSK