Bengaluru, Jun 24 (UNI) In a sweeping crackdown on alleged corruption within Karnataka’s irrigation and rural development departments, the Lokayukta police on Tuesday launched simultaneous raids at multiple locations targeting high-ranking officials.

In Belagavi, the residence of Ashok Vasand, Chief Engineer of the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) Dharwad division, was raided by Lokayukta officials. The raid, conducted at his Ramtirth Nagar residence, led to the seizure of gold, diamond jewellery, and Rs 1.5 lakh in cash. Simultaneous searches were being carried at his office in Dharwad.

Further expanding the operation, the Lokayukta team, led by Superintendent of Police Hanumantharaya, conducted coordinated raids across Vasand’s other premises in Dharwad, Kajjidoni, Jamkhandi, and Jakanur. Officials are scanning documents and assets for evidence of disproportionate wealth and corruption.

Meanwhile, in another parallel operation, raids were carried out in Kalaburagi, Bengaluru, and Vijayapura against Executive Engineer Mallikarjun Alipur and Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) Ramachandra. This team was led by SP BK Umesh and DySP Geetha Benal.

All the operations are part of an ongoing state-wide investigation into corruption in public works, irrigation schemes, and misuse of government funds.

Officials confirmed that the searches are still ongoing, and a detailed inventory of seized items will be released once preliminary scrutiny is complete.

The Lokayukta has ramped up its vigilance against corruption in Karnataka’s bureaucratic machinery, and these latest raids point to a larger effort at cleaning up irregularities in critical public departments.

UNI BDN RKM