In a recent development specific to Belgaum, the Karnataka Lokayukta conducted unanticipated searches at various locations, with a focus on 17 government officials suspected of amassing disproportionate assets totaling a staggering Rs 38 crore. These extensive operations were carried out across multiple regions, including Bengaluru city, Tumkur, Mandya, Chitradurga, Udupi, Hasana, Ballari, Raichur, Kalburgi, Belagavi, and Haveri. These raids unveiled a wide spectrum of assets, encompassing cash, gold, immovable properties, luxury vehicles, land investments, stocks, and high-end electronic devices, resulting in the commencement of 17 cases.
In particular, attention was directed toward Appasaheb Sidling, also known as Siddaling Kamble, who serves as the Joint Director in the Urban and Rural Planning Department at the Divisional Office in Kalburgi. These searches extended to six different locations and revealed movable assets valued at approximately Rs 32,51,000 and immovable assets valued at around Rs 1,54,79,000. The cumulative value amounted to Rs 1,87,30,000, with the approximate value of disproportionate assets (DA) standing at 71.79%.
Among the officials under scrutiny, one of them, Chandrappa K B, an Assistant Revenue Officer in Hegganahalli Sub-Division, Dasarahalli Zone, BBMP, Bengaluru, had both his residence and office subjected to the Lokayukta’s thorough investigations.
Furthermore, Ballari was not excluded from these intensive searches, as Revenue Inspector Manjunath, stationed at the Ballari tahsildar’s office, became the focal point of Lokayukta’s attention. Lokayukta officers, headed by Superintendent of Police M.N. Shashidhar and Hospet Circle Inspector Suresh Babu, executed searches at Manjunath’s residence in the Guggarahatti area and his office within the tahsildar’s office. It was revealed that a few months ago, Manjunath had previously served in the same position in Toranagal.
These raids were prompted by allegations of the accused officials amassing assets significantly beyond their known sources of income, as reported by sources within the Lokayukta.
The comprehensive search operations also extended to other regions, like Belgaum, where multiple officers faced investigations. The premises of Tippanna Gowda, an executive engineer associated with Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd., Basavaraj Dange, Bidar Range Forest Officer, and S.S. Kambale, Joint Director of Town and Country Planning, came under scrutiny.
Moreover, in Raichur, the Lokayukta police conducted searches at the office and residences of Sharanappa Patted, Director of Planning at the Centre for Ash Utilisation Technology and Environment Conservation (CASHUTEC), Nirmithi Kendra. Led by Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Ram Arasiddi, the Lokayukta police team executed searches at Patted’s residences in Gangaparameshwari and IDSMT Layout in the city, his office at Shakti Nagar, and his close relative’s residence in Devasugur, Raichur taluk. The officials discovered around 70 gm of gold ornaments and ₹15,000 in cash.
Sharanappa Patted, who had served as CASHUTEC’s Director of Planning for more than a decade, had recently taken charge of Nirmithi Kendra.
The raids revealed significant immovable and movable assets, with a total value of Rs 2,15,79,000 and a disproportionate asset value of 156.09%. Additionally, another official, Srinivas S R, Deputy Director of Boilers and Factories, Davanagere, and In Charge of Mysore and Shivamogga, underwent searches at 10 locations, uncovering immovable assets valued at approximately Rs 2,30,00,000, movable assets amounting to Rs 59,00,000, and a total value of 2,89,00,000, with a disproportionate asset value of 290.00%.
