Date:05/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/05/stories/2006110506130400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Raid by Lokayukta police nets Khadi Board official

Staff Reporter

Initial findings show that assets exceed income by 300 per cent Assets found to exceed income by 300 per cent

GIVING DETAILS: Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde (left) addressing a press conference in Bangalore on Saturday with Additional DGP Lalrokhuma Pachuau. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: A big and spacious house in Padmanabhanagar, two flats in Banashankari, one site in Koramangala and another in NGEF Layout, Rs. 5.5 lakh in cash and a bank balance of Rs. 9 lakh: these were among the assets of R. Rameshappa, a Karnataka Administrative Service officer, that the Lokayukta police found during a raid conducted on Friday.

According to the preliminary investigation, the Lokayukta police found that the assets possessed by the officer exceeded his income by 300 per cent. "Only after the completion of the investigation will the actual value of the assets be known," Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde told reporters here on Saturday.

The Lokayukta police decided to raid the house of Mr. Rameshappa, chief executive officer of the Khadi and Village Industries Board, after a detailed inquiry based on a complaint. "This is the first case after I took charge in which the Lokayukta police conducted a raid," Mr. Hegde said. "The raid was scheduled only after confirming that the official possessed disproportionate assets," he said. The Lokayukta police also found documents for 27 acres of land in the name of his father, a car, a motorcycle and household articles worth Rs. 65 lakh. From a safe in a house near by, the police recovered the cash, and bottles of Scotch whisky worth Rs. 60,000. They found 10 kg of silver articles, 120 gm of gold, Indira Vikas Patras for Rs. 2.4 lakh, Kisan Vikas Patras for Rs. 1 lakh and a post-office account with Rs. 40,000.

A Lokayukta police official said, "The official has much more assets. Investigation is on to find them and also ascertain the value of assets."

Mr. Hegde said Mr. Rameshappa started out as a probationary officer. He served as Superintendent, Excise Department, Kolar, and private secretary to a Minister. He worked for a while in the denotification section of the Bangalore Development Authority before moving to the present post. He earns Rs. 14,000 a month.

A case has been registered against the official under the Prevention of Corruption Act.