Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi
Mangaluru/Udupi, Mar 12: Charged with amassing assets which are disproportionate to his sources of income, D Manjunathayya, senior lecturer at government teachers training institute at Mangaluru and Udupi, has been suspended. Manjunathayya is also the former commissioner of Udupi city municipal council.
A suspension order dated February 23, 2019 states, under the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) rules 1957, Manjunathayya will be kept under suspension until the enquiry is completed.
A raid was conducted against the officer by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), as there were repeated complaints that he had accumulated wealth illegally and on December 27, 2018 a complaint regarding the same was filed in Udupi district police station. Hence on December 28, a raid was conducted in Manjunathayya's apartment in 'Priyadarshini Complex' Manipal, his house at Birur, Kadur taluk in Chikkamagaluru district and also his office.
Investigations revealed that he had amassed 89.40 percent wealth apart from his known source of income. The order signed as per the directions from Karnataka governor states that there are possibilities that the officer may amass more wealth or cause obstacles during the investigation and hence he will be suspended.
It is interesting to note that Manjunathayya had earlier functioned as municipal commissioner of Udupi municipality. The people of Udupi district had taken a protest 'CMC Commissioner Hatao' demanding his removal in October 2017.
Back then, protesters had demanded Manjunathayya's deputation back to his parent department - education. They had alleged that Manjunathayya lacked technical knowledge required for the post he held, as he was from the education department, and also that he was corrupt. They had alleged that CMC was seeping in corruption because of the support of the commissioner.