Karnataka Lokayukta raids sub-registrar offices

BANGALORE: Within a week of assuming office, Karnataka's new Lokayukta (ombudsman) Justice Shivaraj V. Patil ordered raids at six sub-registrar offices in Bangalore Rural and Doddaballapur districts and unaccounted cash running into thousands of rupees was seized from officials, brokers and agents."The simultaneous raids were conducted Monday by our police teams in the six sub-registrar offices in the twin districts where properties are registered by the public and seized unaccounted cash with a combined value of Rs.294,620," Patil told reporters here Tuesday, a day when action continued in Anekal in Bangalore Rural district.The raids were held in the sub-registrar offices at Hoskote, Jigani, Devanahalli and Nelamangala in Bangalore Rural district and at Doddaballapur in the neighbouring district.In the Jagani office, receipts for encumbrance certificates with a combined value of Rs.155,440 were found with Sub-registrar M. Srinivas and his assistant Chandrashekar but cash in the office was Rs.77,515, revealing a shortage of Rs.77,925."An official (Puttaraju) was found with Rs.8,890, while an agent (Satish) with Rs.25,700 and another agent (Kishore) with Rs.37,800. The officials concerned failed to explain the source of the unaccounted money," Patil said.An unnamed broker was trapped while carrying Rs.59,050 at Devanahalli office and another broker with Rs.40,470 at Nelamangala office.In the Hoskote office, excess cash totalling Rs.11,450 was found with J. Vishwanath, who was in charge of collecting fee for issuing encumbrance certificates.In the same office, though receipts towards registration fee were given for a combined amount of Rs.37,600, actual cash of Rs.22,340 was found with Sub-registrar C. Papanna, showing a shortage of Rs.15,260."The accused officials failed to give explanation for the lapses. We have also registered suo motu case against them," Patil said.Receipts for registration fee, encumbrance certificates, certified copies and other documents with a combined value of Rs.27,380 were found with Sub-registrar C.G. Raikar and his assistant Satish at Doddaballapur revenue office though only Rs.15,675 were found in office, pointing to a shortage of Rs.11,705."We found cash equivalent to Rs.17,650 with an agent, C. Jayanna, who was present in the sub-registrar office when the raid was conducted," Patil added.