Lok Ayukta books 13 officers

The Karnataka Lok Ayukta, the anti-corruption body, on Wednesday raided the properties and residences of 13 state government officers, including an IAS officer and booked them for possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

The officials who came under scanner included V Chandrashekar, an IAS officer awaiting posting; Commercial Taxes Department joint commissioner Ismanullah Khan; medical superintendent Ramalinge Gowda; Public Works Department chief engineer Chandrashekharappa; BDA superintending engineer Guruprasad; BWSSB executive engineer Subbe Gowda; chief engineer Beese Gowda, on deputation to the National Highways Authority of India and inspectors of motor vehicles Hemanth Kumar, Manje Gowda, Nanjundaiah, Ashok and Ramesh.

According to Lok Ayukta officials, the raids were conducted simultaneously at multiple locations, including the towns from where the officials hail from. They said incriminating documents such as share certificates, bonds and title deeds of fixed assets bearing the name of the officers were seized.

"We need at least two days to assess how much each official owns. The examination of the documents recovered from them is yet to be completed. Going by the preliminary examination, it seems the combined assets of all the 13 officers exceed Rs 30 crore," Lok Ayukta officials said.

The Lok Ayukta will inquire in each of the 13 cases. If found guilty, the Lok Ayukta can recommend to the government disciplinary action against the persons concerned, which also includes dismissal from service.