The raid on the office of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on Friday evening has sent shock waves in the organisation. The office wore a deserted look on Saturday. The rule barring the general public from the office till 3 pm was being strictly implemented. Flouting of the rule had drawn much ire from the Lokayukta on Friday.
Lokayukta police have arrested seven persons, including three BDA officials, following the raid during which they found cash that was unaccounted for in the office as well as vehicles belonging to officials and middlemen. The vehicles were parked in the premises.
The arrested BDA officials are Additional Land Acquisition Officer G.R. Harishilpa from whom police seized Rs 1.69 lakh; M.M. Gangadhar, a surveyor, from whom police seized Rs 51,000 and Junior Engineer Hiranaiah from whom Rs 50,000 was seized. Devaraj, an employee of the Record Section, from whom Rs 54,000 was seized fled from the scene and is absconding.
Four middlemen — D.N. Subramanya Kumar, G.M. Deepak from whom Rs 50,000 each was seized, C. Shankar who was in possession of unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 3 lakh and Srinivas with Rs 1.33 lakh — were arrested for allegedly striking deals with the public on behalf of BDA officials.
Additional Director General of Police, Lokayukta, H N Satyanarayana Rao, said that cases have been registered against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1989. The arrested persons were in the Lokayukta court on Saturday. They have been remanded in judicial custody till July 4.
Files with middlemenMr. Rao said that they found an original BDA file in the possession of G. M. Deepak while another 10 files were found in a photocopy shop nearby. Incidentally, the office has the facility to photocopy documents. Sleuths are trying to identify which officials the arrested middlemen were working for.
BDA Commissioner, T. Sham Bhat, welcomed the Lokayukta action. He said that once Lokayukta submits a report to him on the matter, he would take strict action against all officials accused of corruption. He said the three arrested officials would be suspended and that the BDA will strictly implement the rule on the entry of the general public into its office.
InquiryHe promised to initiate an inquiry into official files being taken out of office and being found in possession of an outsider, and would take stringent action against erring officials.
