Published Feb 13, 2026 | 12:14 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 13, 2026 | 12:14 PM
Indian money. (iStock)
Synopsis: The Karnataka Lokayukta raided four government officials and found assets disproportionate to their known income sources. During the raids, which were carried out across properties in Bengaluru, Davangere and Dharwad.
The Karnataka Lokayukta on Thursday, 13 February, raided four government officials and found assets disproportionate to their known income sources.
During the raids, which were carried out across properties in Bengaluru, Davangere and Dharwad in connection with disproportionate assets cases, Lokayukta officials claimed to have unearthed assets worth ₹23.76 crore.
The raids followed complaints from citizens and preliminary inquiries into the disproportionate wealth of government employees and were conducted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which allows search, seizure and financial scrutiny.
Officials said that the final valuation of seized materials and the verification of income records will determine further legal action.
During the raids, it was found that Karnataka Public Works Department (PWD) Executive Engineer Purushotham Das Hegade held assets amounting to ₹11.29 crore, which includes a site, two houses, two education institutes, 11 acres 30 guntas of agricultural land, ₹44.23 lakh cash, gold and silver ornaments worth ₹60.79 lakh, and fixed deposits worth ₹27 lakh.
Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society Superintendent Engineer HM Janardhana, Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil) Arjun RH (Davangere), and Dharwad Assistant Director Land Records’ Office Survey Supervisor Somalingappa Fakkirappa Siddanagoudar were the other officials under the scanner.
Lokayukta officials stated that Hegade was the richest among the four who were raided.
Meanwhile, the Lokayukta also seized a sum of ₹1.70 crore from the flat of Sujay Shetty, a friend of Janardhana, against whom a case has been registered at the Bengaluru Rural Lokayukta Police Station for alleged acquisition of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
He possessed a plot, three houses, 34 acres of agricultural land, gold and silver ornaments worth ₹7.08 lakh, vehicles worth ₹20 lakh, and other valuables worth ₹60 lakh; the total value of his assets has been estimated at ₹2.57 crore.
(With inputs from Anisha Reddy.)
