Karnataka: Lokayukta raids IAS officer, 7 others, unearths Rs 37.42 crore in disproportionate assets

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For the first time in a decade, the Karnataka Lokayukta police on Wednesday, July 23, raided the properties of a senior IAS officer and found assets totalling over Rs 9 crore which were allegedly disproportionate to her known sources of income. The raid was part of those on eight government officials across the state. 

The Lokayukta raided five locations linked to Vasanthi Amar, currently serving as Special Deputy Commissioner at the Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Ltd (K-RIDE).  

Investigators unearthed assets valued at Rs 9.03 crore. These included immovable assets worth Rs 7.4 crore, including three sites, four houses, and three acres of agricultural land. Movable assets were estimated at Rs 1.62 crore and included Rs 66,390 in cash, jewellery worth Rs 12 lakh, vehicles worth Rs 90 lakh, and other assets.

This is not Vasanthi’s first brush with controversy. She was recently booked by the Halasuru Gate Police for allegedly issuing an illegal land order involving 10 acres and 20 guntas in Bengaluru North during her previous posting as Special Deputy Commissioner-3.

The raids formed part of a statewide crackdown spanning 41 locations across Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kalaburagi, Koppal, and Kodagu, as confirmed by a Lokayukta statement. Simultaneous searches were conducted at the residences, offices, and even the homes of relatives of the government officials. The total haul includes assets totally worth Rs 37.42 crore.