Bengaluru : A former clerk at the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) in Koppal district, Karnataka, has come under scrutiny after a raid by the Lokayukta unearthed assets worth over Rs 30 crore.
Nidagundi was found to be in possession of an enormous amount of property, including 24 residential houses, four land plots, and 40 acres of agricultural land. The properties were registered not only in his name but also under the names of his wife and her brother.
The officials also seized 350 grams of gold jewellery, 1.5 kilograms of silver ornaments, and four vehicles, which included two cars and two two-wheelers. Nidagundi, along with former KRIDL engineer ZM Chincholkar, is accused of misappropriating more than Rs 72 crore by allegedly fabricating documents and generating fake bills for 96 infrastructure projects that were never completed.
The discovery came following a complaint submitted to the Lokayukta, which prompted an inspection authorised by a court order. The investigation led to the uncovering of the extensive and disproportionate assets in Nidagundi’s possession.
The officers who came under Lokayukta’s radar were Jayanna R, Executive Engineer, NHAI Division, Hassan; Anjaneya Murthy M Junior Englneer, Rural Drinking Water and Sanitisation Department Chikkabalapura; Dr Venkatesh, Taluk Health officer, Hiriyur, Chitradurga; N Venkatesh, Revenue Officer, BBMP Dasarahalli sub-division, Shettihalli in Bengaluru; and K Om Prakash Senior, Assistant Horticultue Director, BDA Head Office in Bengaluru.
On July 23, they carried out searches in premises linked to eight officials, including an IAS officer, in a disproportionate assets case and recovered wealth worth Rs 37.42 crore.
The raids were conducted at 41 locations linked to the officers posted in Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kalaburagi, Koppal and Kodagu districts.
Among those raided was IAS officer Vasanthi Amar B V, who serves as Special Deputy Commissioner at the Railway Infrastructure Development Company, Karnataka (K-RIDE). She was also responsible for the land acquisition for the Bengaluru Sub-urban Railway Project (BSRP).
During searches at five places linked to Vasanthi, officials recovered assets worth Rs 9.03 crore, including three sites, four houses, three acres of agricultural land to the tune of Rs 7.4 crore, ornaments worth Rs 12 lakh, and vehicles worth Rs 90 lakh.
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