In the context of the case against a government engineer in Belagavi, members of the Karnataka Lokayukta unearthed alleged disproportionate assets of over ₹14 crore as the state faces scrutiny for suspected fraud during an anti-corruption campaign.
The raids involved Ajay Singh Rajput, an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) with the District Urban Development Cell (DUDC). Based on reasonable suspicions of disproportionate assets in relation to sources of income, Lokayukta officers conducted concurrent searches in seven precincts belonging to the said officer.
The raid took place on April 7 and is aimed at a number of houses in Anjaneya Nagar, office buildings. It also targeted the bank lockers of Belagavi and other developments throughout a number of different districts. The scale of the raid was also extensive: properties including those near Savadatti and at Hukkeri, along with those in Hubballi are also being investigated.
According to reports, the authorities got rid of huge wealth and assets during searches. These comprised of approx 5.96 kg of gold and 5 kg of silver and around ₹3.12 crore bank deposits. The probe also found 18 residential plots at varying locations, and three houses in Belagavi the signs of major land ownership.
The authorities also seized luxury cars expensive cars and motorcycles that helped bolster the scale of the purported wealth accumulation. In early estimates, the total value of confiscated and documented assets is pegged at over ₹14 crore. More undisclosed assets may emerge as the investigation continues, especially as bank lockers and financial records have been subject to renewed examination, the departments said.
Lokayukta filed a case as part of provisions on disproportionate assets and corruption. This investigation is now expanding to see if they can trace back the origins, whether any financial transactions were ever made in the first place and if there are any accomplices or benami holdings.
The raids are a part of a recent crackdown on corruption in government departments and seek to discipline public servants, officials said. In all likelihood that the case enjoys intense coverage around misuse of power, as well as illegal wealth accumulation. Additional legal measures would result from the result of a thorough investigation and, if the charges are confirmed, would require significant punishment, the local authority reported. What a reminder of the state’s pledge to eliminate corruption and to make its state operations transparent.
