Lokayukta officials of Karnataka earning Rs 15,000 found to have assets worth more than Rs 30 crore

The residence of a former clerk of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) was raided by Lokayukta officials on Friday (August 01, 2025). During this time, property worth more than Rs 30 crore was recovered from the clerk's house. Four vehicles, 350 grams of gold and 1.5 kg of silver were also seized from the house during the raid.
The officials came to know that Kalakappa Nidagundi, a former clerk working on a monthly salary of Rs 15,000, owned 24 houses, four plots and 40 acres of agricultural land. All these properties were in the name of Kalakappa, his wife and his brother.
According to the allegations, Kalakappa and a former engineer of KRIDL, ZM Chincholkar, siphoned off over Rs 72 crore by falsifying documents for 96 incomplete projects. Lokayukta officials on Tuesday conducted searches at five prominent locations in Hassan, Chikkaballapura, Chitradurga and Bengaluru.
The key officials under suspicion were: 1. Jayanna R, Executive Engineer, NHAI Division, Hassan 2. Anjaneya Murthy M, Junior Engineer, Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Chikkaballapura 3. Dr. Venkatesh, Taluk Health Officer, Hiriyur, Chitradurga 4. N. Venkatesh, Revenue Officer, BBMP Dasarahalli Sub-Division, Shettyhalli, Bengaluru 5. K. Om Prakash Sr, Assistant Director of Horticulture, BDA Headquarters, Bengaluru Lokayukta officials on July 23 searched the premises belonging to 8 officials including an IAS officer in a disproportionate assets case and recovered assets worth Rs. 37.42 crore. The searches were conducted at 41 premises linked to officials posted in Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kalaburagi, Koppal and Kodagu districts.
During the raids at 5 locations linked to Vasanti, the officials recovered assets worth Rs 9.03 crore, including 3 plots, 4 houses, three acres of agricultural land worth Rs 7.4 crore, jewellery worth Rs 12 lakh and vehicles worth Rs 90 lakh.