Karnataka Lokayukta Police conducted simultaneous searches across the state on September 22 at more than 33 locations linked to eight government officials in cases concerning alleged assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
According to officials, the searches identified assets valued at approximately ₹29.62 crore. The properties and valuables included residential and commercial buildings, agricultural land, vehicles, cash, gold and silver ornaments, fixed deposits and other assets.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Lokayukta searches in alleged disproportionate-assets cases.
Location: Bengaluru, Chikkaballapur, Kalaburagi, Mandya, Kodagu, Dharwad and Bidar.
Authority/Organisation: Karnataka Lokayukta Police.
Action Taken: Searches conducted at 33+ locations linked to eight government officials.
Impact: Assets valued at approximately ₹29.62 crore were identified for further examination.
The searches were carried out at residences, offices and premises linked to relatives of the officials across Bengaluru, Chikkaballapur, Kalaburagi, Bengaluru South, Mandya, Kodagu, Dharwad and Bidar.
The eight officials named in reports include Sridevi, District Registrar, Basavanagudi; Shivaraju M, Hostel Superintendent in the Backward Classes Welfare Department; H M Ranganath, retired assistant engineer; Rajeshwari Babalad, Assistant Executive Engineer with GESCOM; H R Ramesh, Municipal Commissioner, Kodagu; Kiran Baindur, Assistant Executive Engineer with HESCOM; Darshan Gowda G, associated with the Karnataka Food and Drug Administration; and retired agriculture officer Manik Rao.
Lokayukta officials said immovable assets were valued at around ₹17.98 crore, while movable assets were estimated at approximately ₹11.63 crore. The figures remain part of the ongoing investigation into the sources and acquisition of the assets.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The scale of the searches and the value of the assets identified have placed the spotlight on financial disclosures and possible disproportionate-asset cases involving government officials. The next stage will depend on verification of documents, income records and the sources of the assets identified during the searches.
Among the cases, Basavanagudi District Registrar Sridevi was linked to assets valued at around ₹6.81 crore, including two sites, two houses, agricultural land and a garment factory, according to officials.
Another case involving retired assistant engineer H M Ranganath involved assets valued at around ₹5.70 crore, including movable assets such as cash, jewellery, vehicles and fixed deposits, according to the reported search findings.
Lokayukta officials said documents and other materials seized during the searches are being examined to establish the officials' income, expenditure and sources of the assets.
The searches do not by themselves establish criminal guilt. The allegations and asset calculations remain subject to investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
