Bengaluru, October 30, 2025 – In one of the largest anti-corruption crackdowns in Karnataka's history, the state Lokayukta police swooped down on the residences and offices of 12 high-ranking government officials early Wednesday morning, seizing assets worth a staggering ₹381 crore deemed disproportionate to their known sources of income. The multi-agency operation, spanning over 20 locations across Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Belagavi, has exposed a web of alleged bribery, benami properties, and illicit cash stashes, sending shockwaves through the state's bureaucracy.
The raids, spearheaded by Lokayukta Justice B.S. Patil under the direct oversight of the Karnataka High Court, began at the crack of dawn and continued for over 12 hours. Teams of sleuths, armed with search warrants, uncovered a trove of unexplained wealth: gold bars weighing over 200 kilograms valued at ₹150 crore, unaccounted cash bundles totaling ₹85 crore packed in suitcases and hidden wall panels, luxury vehicles including three Mercedes-Benz sedans and a Ferrari, and real estate documents for 15 prime properties in Bengaluru's posh Indiranagar and Whitefield enclaves. Digital forensics experts also seized 45 laptops, hard drives, and mobile phones, believed to contain ledgers of kickbacks from infrastructure projects and mining leases.
The 12 officials targeted hail from diverse departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD), Revenue, and Urban Development, all accused of amassing fortunes through a decade-long syndicate of tender manipulations and environmental clearances for illegal quarries. Prominent among them is IAS officer K. Venkatesh Murthy, 52, the former PWD Additional Secretary, whose palatial Jayanagar home alone yielded ₹120 crore in assets – including a basement vault with ₹40 crore in foreign currency (USD and Euros) suspected to be hawala proceeds. "We've barely scratched the surface; these figures represent just 40% of the estimated graft," said a senior Lokayukta officer, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The officials lived modestly on paper, but their lifestyles screamed corruption – private jets to Goa, offshore accounts in Dubai, and even a vineyard in Nashik."
Eyewitnesses at the raid sites described scenes of pandemonium. In Mysuru, as Lokayukta teams breached the gates of Revenue Inspector Sumanth Rao's fortified bungalow, neighbors gathered in disbelief. "He was the picture of integrity – donating to temples, hosting community iftars. Who knew the almirah was stuffed with gold biscuits?" recounted local shopkeeper Lakshmi Devi, 58, who watched as counting machines whirred through the night. In Belagavi, protests erupted outside the home of Urban Development Engineer Priyanka Deshpande, 45, after sleuths carted away her collection of 22 designer watches worth ₹2.5 crore. Family members, including her husband and two children, were briefly detained for questioning before being released.
The operation was triggered by a tip-off from a whistleblower – a disgruntled junior engineer in the PWD – corroborated by intercepted emails and bank trails from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Preliminary probes suggest the group funneled bribes from a ₹5,000 crore state highway project, awarding contracts to shell companies in exchange for 15-20% cuts. "This is systemic rot at its worst," thundered Justice Patil during a midday press conference at the Lokayukta headquarters. "Public servants sworn to serve have betrayed the trust of millions. We've invoked the Prevention of Corruption Act, Benami Transactions Act, and Money Laundering provisions. No one is above the law – not even those who build our roads with stolen money."
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whose Congress government has pledged a zero-tolerance stance on graft, hailed the raids as a "triumph of accountability." In a tweet, he stated: "Corruption's days are numbered in Karnataka. This haul is a warning: Your ill-gotten wealth will be clawed back for the people." However, opposition BJP leaders, including state president BY Vijayendra, accused the government of selective targeting. "Why only Congress-era officers? This smells of political vendetta ahead of polls," Vijayendra fumed at a party meet in Hubballi, demanding a CBI inquiry.
The scandal comes at a precarious time for Karnataka's administration, already reeling from delays in drought relief and urban flooding projects. Activists from the anti-corruption NGO Lok Satta estimate that such graft inflates public project costs by up to 30%, burdening taxpayers. "₹381 crore could have built 500 schools or irrigated 50,000 acres," said founder Admire Kondaveeti. "It's time for asset forfeiture laws to be weaponized – let these mansions become government hostels."
As of Thursday morning, all 12 officials remain in custody, with Lokayukta sources hinting at more arrests imminent, including two serving MLAs with alleged ties to the ring. Forensic audits of the seized assets are underway, and a special court has been petitioned for fast-track trials. The state government has suspended the accused pending inquiry, freezing their bank accounts and travel documents.
In the corridors of Vidhana Soudha, whispers of a "clean sweep" grow louder, but for the common citizen navigating potholed streets, the real test will be whether this raid translates to tangible reform – or just another headline in India's endless battle against the corrupt.
This report draws from Lokayukta briefings, on-ground sources, and official statements. The investigation is active; further developments expected.
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