Karnataka: Officials who fined Kumaraswamy subject to Lokayukta raids

The Lokayukta conducted raids across 63 locations in the state on the morning of 5th December. 13 officials were investigated in the process. Of these, two officials who levied a fine on former Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy on charges of electricity theft also felt the heat of the Lokayukta. 

The congress has been aggressive in making allegations of electricity theft on Kumaraswamy. During Deepavali, a connection was established with an electric pole outside the house for the lighting in his JP Nagar premises. The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) official had investigated the matter and served a notice to Kumaraswamy. 

T.N Sudhakar, belonging to the Vigilance wing of BESCOM and H.D Channakeshava were officials involved in the case. Rs 6 lakh in cash, 3 kg of gold, 28 kg of silver, diamonds amounting to Rs 25 lakh and property documents that were calculated to be Rs 1.5 crore were recovered from Channakeshava’s property at Amruthahalli in Jakkur. Rs 92 lakh in cash were also found in his brother’s house. Channakeshava was sent into a state of shock upon the raids and required medical intervention to stabilise. 

Documents pertaining to 12 acres of property were identified in Sudhakar’s residence.