Probe into K'taka ACB over 'leaks' before raids

THE LOKAYUKTA IS PROBING A SERIES OF INCIDENTS WHERE OFFICIALS VACATED THEIR OFFICES JUST BEFORE SCHEDULED RAIDS IN 2024 AND 2025

- Arun Dev

BENGALURU: The raids by Karnataka's anti-corruption body were likely compromised from within as the investigators probing an extortion racket run by a dismissed police constable are examining whether raid information was deliberately leaked ahead of time, said officials familiar with the matter.

The widening investigation comes in the wake of the arrest of Ningappa Savant, a 45-year-old former constable, who allegedly posed as senior Lokayukta officials to extort crores from government officers across departments, including transport, excise and the BBMP. The case initially emerged in May when a call was made to a Tumakuru RTO officer demanding bribes to avoid a Lokayukta raid.

According to an official, the Lokayukta is probing a series of suspicious incidents where officials vacated their offices just before scheduled raids in 2024 and 2025. "Details of several raids conducted by the Lokayukta in 2024 and 2025 were leaked on the day of the raids. The officials concerned fled the offices where the raids took place. On the same day, details of a phone call between some Lokayukta officials and Ningappa were found," said a Lokayukta official on condition of anonymity.