Karnataka Lokayukta searches 32 premises linked to four officials over disproportionate assets

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A view of the Lokayukta office in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: File photo

The Karnataka Lokayukta Police conducted searches at multiple premises linked to four government officials in Bengaluru and Belagavi on September 30 and October 1 following allegations that they had amassed assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

The searches were carried out by the Bengaluru City-2 and Belagavi-2 units of the Lokayukta Police. The officials under investigation include Rajesh Channappa Mishrikoti, Deputy Director, Department of Factories, Boilers and Industrial Safety, Mangaluru; Suresh Ramu Munje, Grade-I Tahsildar, Nipani, Belagavi district; Manteswamy, Joint Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Mysuru; and Harishilpa G.R. (KAS), Special Land Acquisition Officer-2, Chickballapur district, attached to the Scouts and Guides Building near Maharani’s College, Bengaluru.

According to the Lokayukta, searches were conducted at six premises linked to Rajesh Mishrikoti, nine premises linked to Suresh Munje, eight premises linked to Manteswamy and nine premises linked to Harishilpa, taking the total to 32 locations.

The searches covered residential houses, sites, agricultural land and, in one case, a factory. Lokayukta officials also found details of movable assets, including cash, gold jewellery, vehicles, fixed deposits and other valuables during the searches.

The Lokayukta said preliminary findings indicated that all four officials possessed assets allegedly disproportionate to their known sources of income during their respective periods of service. Further assessment and investigation are under way to establish the value and source of the assets.

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