The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Lokayukta finds cash in official's chamber during raid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Lokayukta finds cash in official's chamber during raid

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MARCH 30. The Lokayukta, N. Venkatachala, and his officials today found cash of Rs. 4.87 lakhs in the possession of the Engineer-in-Chief (National Highways), B.N. Chandra Shekaraiah, his subordinate, and a contractor, at the National Highways office at K.R. Circle here.

The Lokayukta said a briefcase in the chamber of Mr. Chandra Shekaraiah contained Rs. 3 lakhs and the officer had another Rs. 30,000 in his pockets.

His Technical Assistant (General), P. Pushparaj, had Rs. 60,000 in his pocket.

A contractor, Venkata Reddy of Hyderabad, had another Rs. 97,000 in his possession.

He said the officials raided the residence of Mr. Pushparaj and found cash of Rs. 90,000. The residence of Mr. Chandra Shekaraiah was also raided, he said.

The Lokayukta said the Chief Accounts Officer, Nagaraj Sherigar, ran away after the Lokayukta team commenced the raid. He directed that the official's chamber be sealed.

Mr. Venkatachala said a Government circular had clarified that no official should have more than Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 in his possession while they were on duty.

Possessing more money is construed as bribe, he told presspersons.

Different versions

When the Lokayukta questioned Mr. Chandra Shekaraiah about the money, he initially said he had withdrawn the sum from his General Provident Fund a month ago.

Later, he said a person by name Chandru had given it to him.

He was waiting for his son-in-law to take the money. The latter needed it for his business, he said.

The Lokayukta asked him to come out with one version and he stuck to the second version.

Mr. Pushparaj said he had kept the money with him since he needed to make payments to a contractor who was building his house. Mr. Venkatachala said there was no need for the official to bring the money to the office.

Venkata Reddy said he was here to press for the clearance of his pending bills with regard to a project which he completed for the National Highways three years ago.

He was keeping the money to pay his workers who were executing a project in Hampi. The Lokayukta said he was not convinced why he should bring the money to this office.

The Lokayukta said he would decide on the course of action against the officials later.

A Lokayukta official said the raid followed the receipt of credible information that illegal transaction of money was taking place in the office in view of the financial year coming to an end on Thursday.

Money allocated for certain purposes had to be drawn before March 31, he pointed out.

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