PWD engineer has assets amounting to ₹11.29 crore: Karnataka Lokayukta

Lokayukta sleuths carried out simultaneous searches at 29 locations linked to four government officers across Karnataka on February 12.

According to the Lokayukta, the raids targeted properties in Bengaluru, Davangere and Dharwad in connection with disproportionate assets cases.

Officials under investigation are H. M. Janardhana, Superintendent Engineer in the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society, Arjun R. H., Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil) in BESCOM, Davangere; Purushotham Das Hegade, Executive Engineer, Public Works Department; and Somalingappa Fakkirappa Siddanagoudar, Survey Supervisor, Assistant Director Land Records’ Office, Dharwad.

The Lokayukta claimed to have unearthed assets worth ₹23.76 crore.

Purushotham was the richest among the four with assets amounting to ₹11.29 crore, which comprised a site, two houses, two education institutes, 11 acres 30 guntas of agricultural land, ₹44.23 lakh cash, gold and silver ornaments worth ₹60.79 lakh, fixed deposits worth ₹27 lakh.

Cash seized from home of friend of engineer

A sum of ₹1.70 crore was seized from the flat of a friend of a Janardhana against whom a case has been registered at the Bengaluru Rural Lokayukta Police Station based on information regarding alleged acquisition of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

“In connection with the disproportionate assets case registered against Janardhana, searches were conducted at six locations. During the search, cash amounting to ₹1.70 crore was found at the flat of his friend, Sujay Shetty,” a Lokayukta official said.

The engineer also owns a site (plot), three houses, 34 acres of agricultural land, gold and silver ornaments worth ₹7.08 lakh, vehicles worth ₹20 lakh, and other valuables worth ₹60 lakh.

The total value of his assets has been estimated at ₹2.57 crore.