In a major corruption crackdown, Lokayukta sleuths launched simultaneous raids across Karnataka on Wednesday, targeting eight government officers — including a senior IAS official — in a sweeping investigation into disproportionate assets.

The high-profile raid focused on Vasanthi Amar B V, an IAS officer serving as Special Deputy Commissioner with the Railway Infrastructure Development Company, Karnataka (K-RIDE). She was overseeing land acquisition for the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP), a key infrastructure initiative now facing setbacks amid the probe.

Sources say the raids have already disrupted the project’s progress, with the main contractor threatening to halt construction due to delays in land procurement.

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Other officials under investigation include Manjunathaswamy M, Joint Director in the Department of Skill Development in Madikeri; B Venkatarama, Office Assistant at Mysuru City Corporation; Rajesh M, Assistant Executive Engineer in Tumakuru; and Sunil Kumar, Executive Engineer with the Family and Welfare Engineering Section in Kalaburagi.

Also raided were Sheku, Assistant Director at the District Industries Centre in Koppal; Bagli Maruti, Assistant Director in the City and Rural Project Department, Bengaluru; and H.V. Yerappa Reddy, Executive Engineer with BBMP.

The raids are part of an expanding probe into alleged illicit wealth amassed by public officials far beyond their known sources of income.

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