Lok Ayukta unearths Rs 25 cr worth unaccounted property

Bangalore, June 24 (UNI) The Karnataka Lok Ayukta today unearthed Rs 25 crore worth of unaccounted property from three Government officials.

Talking to newspersons here, Lok Ayukta Justice M Venkatachalaiah said the unaccounted properties were seized in a series of raids on the premises of State Intelligence Bureau Deputy Superintendent H Thimme Gowda (Rs eight crore), Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board Assistant Secretary N Nagaraj Naik ((Rs six crore) and Kodigehalli Village Accountant T Hanumanthaiah (Rs 11 crore).

Cases were booked against all the three under the Prevention of Corruption Act and they were produced before the court.

Mr Gowda, who was under suspension for some period following the illicit liquor tragedy, in which ten people lost their lives last year at Nelamangala, near here, possessed two houses, three plots in the city and ten acres of agriculture land in Mugulur. His bank deposits and cash balances were worth Rs 20 lakh. He owned a car and a motorcycle, worth about 6.50 lakh. Gold and silver articles worth Rs 1.50 lakh were also seized from his house.

Mr Naik possessed two two-storeyed buildings in the city, 12.5 acres of farmland and a 60 x 40 site in Mysore. His bank balances were Rs 56,000 and he had over Rs 40,000 in cash. Gold and silver jewels, together worth Rs 13.05 lakh, were also seized. Furniture, electrical, electronic and household articles were worth Rs 11 lakh.

Hanumanthaiah, the Producer of Kannada film 'Poojary', possessed a house worth Rs one crore in the city, Rs 2.5 crore worth farmhouse at Byrohalli village and a site worth Rs one crore in Nagarbhavi in the city. The three vehicles, including two four-wheelers, seized from him were worth Rs 12.50 lakh and gold and silver were worth Rs 2.86 lakh.

Mr Justice Venkatachalaiah said the bank lockers of the trio were yet to be checked.

UNI MSP GD VD KN1958