The Lokayukta raided residence of 12 state officials in disproportionate asset cases. The searches were conducted on the residence of 6 officials in Bangalore city, two officials in Bangalore Rural District, two officials in Shimoga district and one officer each in Yadagiri, Tumkur, the officials said.
54 places belonging to officers were raided and their records were also checked.
One of the municipal commissioners is posted in a major coastal town in the state, the officials said. The raids were carried out in Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Shimoga, Yadgiri and Kalaburgi, the officials added.
"Officials commenced the raid early this morning at 54 locations involving over 100 sleuths," they added.
The premises of officials posted in Invest Karnataka Forum, Yadgir Zilla Panchayat, Veterinary Department, Hebbagodi in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Labour Department, Commercial Taxes Department, Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, Horticulture Department, Legal Metrology and Bhadravati Gram Panchayat were among those raided, the officer said.
Supreme Court's setback to Shivakumar in disproportionate assets case
The Lokayukta action on Friday came days after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar faced a setback as the Supreme Court refused to quash the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) FIR against him in the disproportionate assets case. Shivakumar had sought the quashing of the disproportionate assets case filed by the CBI.
What is the case?
The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by Shivakumar challenging the October 19, 2023, order of the Karnataka High Court, which had rejected his plea. The high court had directed the CBI to conclude its investigation and submit a report within three months.
The CBI has alleged that Shivakumar accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income between 2013 and 2018, during his tenure as a minister in the previous Congress government. The FIR was filed by the CBI on September 3, 2020, and Shivakumar challenged it in the high court in 2021.
