Thaindian News

Bangalore, July 22 (IANS) Even as a political storm is brewing over illegasl mining in Karnataka, the Lokayukta (ombudsman) Friday raided premises of eight officials across the state and seized properties collectively valued over Rs.10 crore.

“Raids were conducted against senior and middle level officers of various departments for acquiring properties disproportionate to their known sources of income,” Lokayukta Justice Santosh N. Hegde told reporters here.

Among the officials who were raided and their properties seized were state public works department (PWD) secretary C. Mrutyunjaya Swamy in Bangalore, range forest officer Raghava Patali at Beltangadi in Dakshina Kannada district, PWD executive engineer Virupakshappa in Davanagere district, local body assistant executive engineer Suresh Ningappa Gowder at Hunagund in Bagalkot district, child project officer Basavaraj Varavatti in Bidar district and local body assistant executive engineer Gopal in Kolar district.

“Though the cumulative income from salary of Swamy and his wife is Rs.95,70,373 since 1992, the couple amassed properties, including houses, flats, commercial complexes, bank balances, deposits, gold and jewellery and cash collectively valued at Rs.5.95 crore,” Hegde said.

Similarly, raids on Patali led to unearthing of unaccounted properties, including cash, gold, sites, bank balances, bonds and insurance policies, valued at Rs.88 lakh though cumulative salary and other income was Rs.56 lakh.

“I have recommended to the state government to suspend the officials and inquire into their disproportionate properties to ascertain the sources of their accumulation,” Hegde said.

The other two officials raided are Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) clerk L. Mailaraiah in Tumkur district and local body secretary Abdul Ghani in Raichur district.

These led to seizure of properties valued at Rs.54 lakh and Rs.17 lakh respectively though their income was Rs.36 lakh and Rs.17 lakh respectively.