Lok Ayukta’s long arm traps top 'babu'

The Karnataka Lok Ayukta’s battle against graft continues. Amidst raging controversy over the involvement of big guns in illegal mining in the state, the anti-corruption watchdog on Friday led raids across the state netting eight allegedly corrupt babus.

The biggest catch of all was secretary, Public Works Department, C Mrutyunjaya Swamy.

Friday’s raids were unprecedented.

It was the first time that the long arm of the Lok Ayukta has reached the secretary-level echelons of the babudom in Karnataka.

Besides, the tainted cash during the raids stood at Rs96.48 lakh, an all time high seizure for a day by the Lok Ayukta.

The total value of the properties recovered from eight officials in the raids conducted in Bangalore, Belthangady (Dakshina Kannada district), Davangere, Bagalkot, Bidar, Kolar, Tumkur and Raichur was Rs10.21 crore.

“This is the first time that our raids have touched a secretary-level official and also for the first time, we have had such a huge cash haul,” Lok Ayukta justice N Santosh Hegde said.