Bengaluru, September 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Karnataka Lokayukta officials on Tuesday conducted simultaneous searches at the properties of serving and retired government officials in Mandya, Kalaburagi and Hubballi-Dharwad following complaints of possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
The searches targeted a retired Backward Classes Welfare (BCM) Hostel Superintendent and serving officials of Hubli Electricity Supply Company Ltd (HESCOM) and Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited (GESCOM). Lokayukta teams recovered cash, gold jewellery, property documents, liquor bottles and other valuables during the searches.
In Mandya, Lokayukta police searched the residence and farmhouse of the retired BCM Hostel Superintendent in connection with allegations of corruption and accumulation of disproportionate assets. The searches were conducted at his residence in Vinayaka Layout, Maddur, and at his farmhouse.
Officials reportedly found assets valued at more than Rs 2 crore, along with cash, gold jewellery, hundreds of property documents and expensive silk sarees. Around 80 bottles of liquor were also reportedly recovered from the retired official’s residence.
The searches also led to the recovery of food supplies, including rice, pulses and cooking oil, allegedly meant for students of the BCM hostel.
Gift boxes reportedly brought by the government for distribution among officials and VIPs during a literary conference held in Mandya two years ago were also found at the residence and farmhouse.
Lokayukta officials are examining the recovered property documents and other materials. A photocopying machine and scanner were taken to the locations to copy and digitise the documents as part of the investigation.
In Kalaburagi, Lokayukta officials raided the residence of a woman Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) with GESCOM in Mahalakshmi Layout following complaints of disproportionate assets.
The raid was conducted by a team led by Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Siddaraju. Around 400 grams of gold was reportedly recovered during the search. Officials are examining the officer’s assets and financial records to determine whether they are disproportionate to her known sources of income.
In Hubballi-Dharwad, Lokayukta teams searched four locations linked to a HESCOM AEE and his family over similar allegations.
A team led by Lokayukta Deputy Superintendent of Police Basavaraj Budni conducted searches at the HESCOM office in Hubballi, the residence and office of the AEE’s wife, a house in Akshay Park in Hubballi and property belonging to the officer’s brother in Dharwad.
The officer is serving as an AEE with HESCOM, while his wife is also an engineer with the power utility. The Gopanakoppa HESCOM office and the residence of Kiran Kumar’s brother were among the locations searched.
The Lokayukta teams are now verifying property documents, bank records, financial details and other materials recovered during the searches to determine the extent of assets allegedly accumulated beyond the officials’ known sources of income.
The allegations remain subject to investigation and due legal process.
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