Karkala: Lokayukta raids house of municipal engineer, unearths unaccounted wealth


R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Jun 10: A Lokayukta team led by Udupi district Lokayukta deputy superintendent of police, Umesh Shet, conducted surprise raid on the house of local municipal engineer, Sridhar Naik. The team reportedly laid hands on a huge amount of unaccounted wealth during the raid, including landed property and gold ornaments.

It is said that the official owns two palatial houses at Nitte in his as well as his wife's names.

Various allegations are being heard about Naik, who has been working here as municipal engineer since about a year, in the local circles. One of them relates to pruning down the four-cent children's park near Gandhi Maidan to three cents, and allowing an educational institution to encroach upon the balance one cent land, while the other one is in connection with the construction of compound wall to only 35 cents out of 60 cents municipal land on Hegde Road, and selling the remaining land unauthorizedly to local residents. This issue had also been discussed in the previous general session of the municipal council. The raid coincides with the period during which the above two issues have taken centre stage, and cast question mark on the credibility of the said official.

The fact that the Lokayukta team has been verifying documents relating to assets and landed properties of Naik has given rise to jitters among the officials in the municipality. In the past, forged documents were used relating to the tendering process of a car meant for the use of environmental engineer. After coming to know that the car documents, originally standing in the name of the husband of a former municipal president, had been modified to submit tender in the name of another person, the then municipal chief officer had stayed the process of hiring of that car.

In spite of this development, the last general session of the council found that after two years, rent for the same car was paid at the rate of Rs 84,000 per month by the municipality. Several municipal councillors have alleged large scale misappropriation in respect of billing in connection with various works. They opine that a number of officers, office staff, and people's representatives will be found guilty if proper investigation is conducted into all the municipal dealings.

The citizens of the town have, over the years, observed that officers and other staff working for the local municipality have been amassing enormous amount of wealth within a short period. They claim that several of these officials have properties registered in someone else's name. They have therefore, urged the Lokayukta to hold detailed investigations to all the transactions of the municipality and nail the guilty.

  

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Comment on this article

  • MELWIN, UDUPI

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    Dear Lokayuktha Officer, Could you Please raid houses of Udupi City Municipal Engineers & Town Planning (Udupi Pradhikara)Officials. Definitely you will find unaccounted wealth / properties

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Godwin Kamath, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    May be it is about time Lokayukta raided the Food Licensing authorities. Despite paying the due fees and documentations, they openly roam about and ask for Bribes. I too am a victim of this. Since FSSAI has made it mandatory to have license done online, the officers are unable to make money. So they bring those licenses with them distributing them on your own premises and demanding a bribe claiming there are some irregularities. So even if things are done online, when an officer has to do something, even if it be just handing over your completed document, he will demand bribe. All these should be named and shamed in Public. Mangalore registrars office is one of them. Without a minimum of 20K, he'll not do your own apartment registration. God have mercy on us.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • KL, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    Is this effect of western culture ?

    or Is it our Indian tradition??

    :)

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Justice for all, India

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    Can someone let us know how many of such culprits caught by Lokayuktha have been convicted?

    If the purpose of curbing down the corruption is not effective, then why waste time? Just to fool the public?

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • KL, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    Most of the fraud are committed by Govt officials, religious heads and influential’s people. Common man is just made to run around and suffer under law.

    We are facing problem done by registrar who had registered a false sales deed and the case is dragging in courts from many years.

    we need to have all Govt departments, Courts computerized and online. All form submission, tracking of progress of work and case matters be made available on login. So we will have option of going personally to Govt office and get the work done or do it online or get assistance of an agent. All cases in lower to supreme court needs to be upto date online. By this we keep a track of all proceeding and not wasting our precious time waiting to get s or standing in line at Govt departments waiting to meet officers just to pay bribe.

    One more important thing is to have Unique Identity card\no for each individual. Having this card does not mean that the person is a citizen of this country or can avail any govt facilities. This card is only to identify a person and also it is easy to keep a track of any fraud committed. Even if the person is not a citizen of this country and staying here for long period, we can have information of this person with help of this card and his whereabouts. This card can be then linked with Banks, Govt related work, licensing, banning, blacklisting, transactions etc.

    we live in a country with many languages, different cultures. Today I am living in Mangalore tomorrow I may have to move to some other state out of Karnataka due to work or for personal reasons. I may not be fluent in all languages. So my request is to have a document divide into 2 columns with regional language written on one side and English on other side like documents done in Arab Gulf nations. So we don't have to dependent on others and reduce fraud to an extent.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • ranjan, mlore

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    The major issue is what happens after this raid ? , if it is a simple suspension and probe to be conducted , then this raid is simply an eyewash . This has become routine now a days , nobody in public knows what are the action taken on these people . I have never come across any sort of termination and law action on these types of officers . They are left scot-free after somedays to continue what they are good at ..or else transferred to other areas to start a new set up .

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohan H Naik, Mangaluru

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Whether the law takes its own course or not is doubtful.
    Social Boycott of such corrupt people and corrupt practice may be an option, which all sagacious citizen of this country may exercise.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sayed, karkala

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    its not surprise,until these people remain in this town will not improve dirty road and other buildings, they are the evil for the society,its a combined act of local traders also who they are oppose new bus stand & other developments.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ravi B Shenava, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    No wonder the roads & all other Govt projects constructed with Govt funds are of so low quality.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dr Kusuma Kumari G, Nellore/Kodyadka

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    These corrupt men in Municipality must be arrested and punished royally so that no one makes illegal money like this. We must not take bribes in life. Jai Hind Jai Bharath

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • jacintha, middle east

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Since everything bad/ugly/negative is connected with Italy / Congi, please check his credentials.

    Reality is.. the thorns are among us, not in Italy or Congi.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • chandran, chitpalli

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    No one knows what happens after this raid ..but Iam sure Naik will do the same business..

    DisAgree Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • RAVINDRA, KARKALA

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Good work done by Lokayukta. Instead developing city, he is ensuring his own development

    DisAgree Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • karthik.ks, Doha Qatar

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Its very sad to hear NITTE is highlighting for BAD news .The villagers should boycott the people who brings remarks..At least this time the teeth less Lokayuktha take action and put culprits behind bars. Govt should eliminate corruption from famous Lokayuktha of Karnataka Mr Santhosh Hegdes Home Village NITTE.

    DisAgree Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Being an Engineer if you don’t set your own house in proper design and order then there is no meaning for your profession but in this case Naik Saab Engineer tried to design his house in such a manner that nobody likes it and he paid the price now…………..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Tue, Jun 10 2014


    Right thing is to provide some clues to this Lokyuktha authorities (without disclosing sender details)

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sujith Kumar, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Dear Lokayuktha Officer, Could you please raid houses of MUDA officials. Definitely you will find unaccounted wealth / properties.

    DisAgree Agree [29] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Yes , it should be..... If they have the WILL, they can raid every one but they are ive in their work for the best reasons known to them ONLY.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Karkala

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    Please raid sub registrars office.He takes bribe to each and every work. He collects money openly in front of Police constable. Let me known any one has sold or bought property without paying bribe to registrar.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Shettigar, karkala

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Lokayukta persons should stay at least next 15 days in karkala ,like Sridhar Naik more than 10 to 20 big fishes they can catch. I believe it is a small fish they cached.

    DisAgree Agree [37] Reply Report Abuse

  • venkat, Mulky

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Besides, the engineers, 99% of the Panchayat VAs are involved in corruption and criminal activities. Many of these VAs have become real estate brokers and advise people how to manipulate land records. With these criminals help many greedy villagers change the title deed of the land in joint name to single name and sell the lands before the other party comes to know about. I think All the VA's should be raided and their properties should be confiscated.

    DisAgree Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • sunil, blr /q8

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    some influential politicians may put pressure on lokayuktha to rain on KAL NAYAK..... ( MAY HE ..HURT THIS POLITICAL PERSON...NOT OBEYING HIS ORDERS..OR MAY HE NOT GOT THE SHARE ( lion,,,BRIBE..} ..THAT MAY BE RESULT OF THIS RAID..
    I NEVER HEARD ANY PERSON BEING PUNISHED AFTER THIS LOKAYUKTHA RAID... THEN WHAT IS THE USE OF RAID... JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, THERE IS useless govt working calLeD lokaa yuktha on politician's INSTRUCTIONS..????

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Tue, Jun 10 2014



    Tip of an Iceberg.

    Please net other sharks that are amassing wealth by illegal way and become multi-millionaire overnight.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    From the Commissioner to the peon/constable, from the Registrar to the peon, from the bureaucrats to the peon, from the Minister to the grass root politicians ... are all very very corrupt and misuses their power that is given by the Aam Aadmi.
    One more Special Anti-corruption Central Commission should official create a wing of Registered Whistle Blowers in every department from Panchayat level. The members of such wings should recruit honest citizens from Rotary, Lions and other social organisation in the region.
    Jai Hind!

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    A Maruthi800 in the shed of this palatial abode is certainly a gross mismatch, at least a Merc would suit better. May be the engineer saab can give a serious thought to this in the second innings.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Lokayukta is doing their job @ its best, still these people have no fear of them & keep on doing corruption. Lokayukta need more best jobs required.

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • SAFWAN, SHAHAMA/uae

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    To unearth hidden wealth human or animal sacrifice not required!!!
    See how lokayukta neatly uted the job……..Congratulations.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naveen Shetty, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Everyone in India want to get rich quickly and the easiest way they find is cheating.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nancy, Belman

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Mr Sridhar Naik- After doing these many hera-pheri's, does you get proper sleep?? Does you have has peace of mind?

    DisAgree Agree [43] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    @Nancy Belman,such People sleep very well.because People who think of others concern dont do such dirty Thing,dont cheat.Only who are honest are earning any Money and they remain always poor.I experienced in karkala panchayat some 40years back as to get birth certificate ,they made me to run about three times till I came of the idea why they are doing this.as soon as 100rupee was in taken out was my certificate ready within no time.I needed fast as my visa was about going to end.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • D Bhat, Mumbai

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    This is what I always thought, but now I think maybe these people have overcome this problem..In fact, I think, if they dont do any hera-pheri they cannot sleep at all!!! This is Kali-yuga...

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • nelson pinto, oman / udupi

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    " good work"by,Udupi district Lokayukta deputy superintendent of police.

    find more you will get more and more,

    DisAgree Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    Pls carry out raids on ALL govt officers, Crores of crores of rupees can be unearthed and can be used for the development of the country. The raids carried out here and there shows, these are carried out for publicity. Since we know many of the revenue officials who are caught have been re instated in their works.

    DisAgree Agree [29] Reply Report Abuse

  • sid, mangalore

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    ache din achuke hain

    DisAgree [7] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mann, bangalore

    Tue, Jun 10 2014

    sid, Mangalore

    Ache din ke liye bahut bahut time hein.
    Until and unless these type of people are really punished and their personal wealth (Not looted wealth) along with looted wealth is totally confiscated, nothing is going to happen. Just read Krishna, Mangalore's observation - all those caught in earlier instances are back in business already!!!!

    What is the use of these Lokayukta's good work - all this goes down the drain due to the politicians\police involved in these under hand dealings.
    Government should hurry-up and grant Lokayukta powers to take to task these erring officials\politicians.
    Until then this will be only like a drama....

    DisAgree Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse


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