Bengaluru: Lokayukta raids MLA's aides; documents seized
Houses, offices of 8 BBMP officials searched.
BENGALURU: Continuing the investigation in connection with the case in which around 900 files related to the BBMP works in Raja Rajeshwarinagar zone were found in the house of a close relative of Rajarajeshwari Nagar Congress MLA Muniratna, the Lokayukta police conducted simultaneous raids at eight places belonging to eight people including BBMP Engineers.
During the raids, the police seized several documents and hard disks related to BBMP works. Lokayukta police said that raids were conducted on Executive Engineer of BBMP West Division Malathesh’s house in Rajeev Gandhi Nagar in Kodigehalli and his office. Also, searches were conducted at the house and office of Executive Engineer of BBMP South Division M. Kempegowda. Both these officials are working in the Road Infrastructure Division of the BBMP.
Besides, Assistant Executive Engineer of Kottigepalya Ward, I. K. Vishwa’s house in Basavanagudi and his office were raided. Apart from the officials, the houses of two private individuals, who are said to be close associates of MLA Muniratna, were also raided. Venkatesh Murthy alias Tar Venkatesh’s office in Wilson Garden and the house of M.R. Jayaram at Guni Agrahara Village near Hesaraghatta were searched.
Tar Venkatesh is said to be a contractor while Jayaram is an employee of Vrishabadri Constructions Company. An official in the Lokayukta police wing said that the raids started early on Thursday morning and continued till late evening.
“We have seized hundreds of files related to BBMP works from all the places and have also seized several hard disks. The raids were based on the information gathered all these months in connection with the old case. As many as 20 officers and 35 staff were part of the raiding teams,” he added.
Among those in the radar, I.K. Vishwas was arrested in February in connection with the same case. It may be recalled that the Lokayukta sleuths had raided a house belonging to a close relative of MLA Muniratha in Vyalikaval and had seized around 900 files related to the BBMP works in Rajarajeshwarinagar zone in December 27, 2014.