5 police officers arrested, assets worth Rs 60 cr seized

Bangalore, Mar 15: The Lok Ayukta police have seized assets worth Rs 60 crore during raids conducted at the offices and houses of five police officials here and arrested them for accumulating wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income.

Police said the raids were conducted at the places of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Doddaballpur, N Krishnappa and four Inspectors of the city--Mir Arif Ali attached to the Koramangala police station, Shami-ur-Rehman of Crime Branch's Fraud and Misappropriation wing, N Narayanaswamy of VVIP security and P Shivanna, Circle Inspector attached to Yeshwantpur police station.

The raids were conducted yesterday by four teams of the Lok Ayukta police, each headed by a Superintendent of Police.

In Mr Krishnappa's house, unaccounted cash to the tune of Rs 23.52 lakh was found. Besides, gold and silver ornaments, worth Rs 1.58 lakh and land documents were also recovered. In all his assets were valued at Rs 15 crore. His bank accounts and other documents were still being traced.

A sum of Rs 4 lakh, house and land documents, share certificates and other investments worth Rs 40 lakh were unearthed at Mr Shami-ur-Rehman's house. His ten bank accounts were also being looked into, the police said.

At Mr Ali's residence, besides a sum of Rs 2.75 lakh, documents relating to ten house sites in the name of relatives were also seized. Bank accounts of Mr Ali and his relatives were also being checked.

The police found that Mr Shivanna lived in a house valued at Rs 1.5 crore and also owned a building worth Rs 50 lakh in Tumkur and another house in the city.

Though he had escaped from the custody of two police personnel escorting him near High Grounds, he later surrendered before the Lok Ayukta police.

During the raid at Mr Narayanaswamy's house Rs 19,000 in cash and 700 gms of gold jewellery were recovered. Besides, it was found that he owned a four-storeyed house worth Rs 2 crore and eight acres of land in Chikballapur.

All the five officials were produced before the 23rd City Sessions Judge.

UNI