Lokayukta raid a feather in his cap

Trapped police officer is proud to have the watchdog raid his home. His only regret: 'It will spoil my chances of a promotion'

Lokayukta raid a feather in his cap

Trapped police officer is proud to have the watchdog raid his home. His only regret: 'It will spoil my chances of a promotion'

Corrupt officials are taking Lokayukta raids as compliments, said Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde after his team trapped seven officers and uncovered disproportionate wealth worth over Rs 7 crore.

When Lokayukta sleuths raided the house of Kittur Circle police inspector Basavaraj Lingdal, he told surprised officers: "You should have come next month. I am awaiting my promotion and this will spoil my chances."

There was no regret or remorse, said a senior police officer supervising the raid. "He, in fact, took the raid as a compliment."

Uncovered

The police unearthed property worth Rs 1.3 crore from Lingdal, an amount that's way beyond his known sources of income. The property includes six sites, twou00a0 houses and 19 acres around the state in his and his family members' names.

Lingdal joined the police department as a sub inspector in 1981 and his total income salaried and non salaried so far is Rs 27 lakh, officials said.

Other officials raided were: Asad Ali, deputy commissioner of police (excise department), Bidar, who owns property worth Rs 1.6 crore; Shivaram, first division assistant, Bangalore Development Authority, having disproportionate property worth Rs 99 lakh; K L Nagraj, senior motor vehicle inspector, Bidar, who owns property worth Rs 93 lakh; T Basavaraj, Block Education officer, Mysore, owns property worth Rs 73 lakh;u00a0 Sheikh Samiulla Shariff, assistant commissioner, labour department, Mysore, has assets worth Rs 1.10 crore; and Shivraj Kavale, assistant executive engineer (awaiting posting), Gulbarga, with assets worth Rs 20 lakh.