In Karnataka, ED has taken major action in the case of alleged corruption going on in the Excise Department. ED’s Bengaluru team raided 14 places in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Belagavi on June 24. This action was taken under the Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case was started on the basis of FIR of Karnataka Lokayukta Police. ED started the search operation on the basis of FIR registered by Karnataka Lokayukta Police against senior officers and employees of Karnataka Excise Department. It is alleged that some senior officials of the Excise Department used to take bribe in exchange for issuing and renewing licenses.
According to ED, investigation revealed that a complete network of bribery was running in the department. A fixed amount was charged every month from liquor shops. Money was also taken in the name of license renewal, shifting of shop and granting of new licenses. Investigation revealed that this bribe money was collected through middlemen and then distributed among themselves. For this, a secret cash book was also kept, which has been confiscated by ED.
Liquor licenses were taken in the name of close relatives
According to ED, many officers had taken liquor licenses in the name of their family members and close ones and were running the business through them. Black money was being converted into white by showing the income from this business as legal income. In this case, Excise Department officials Jagdish Nayak, K.M. Thammanna and Y.D. Searches were conducted at the residences of Manjunath including his family, business partner and close ones. During the raid, ED has recovered many important documents, digital devices, property papers and cash books related to bribe transactions.
Gold jewelery worth Rs 7.8 crore seized
ED arrested Y.D. About Rs 5.5 crore in cash, gold jewelery worth Rs 7.8 crore and foreign currency worth Rs 3.3 lakh have been recovered from the premises of Manjunath, his driver, family and associates. Till now, total assets worth Rs 13.3 crore have been seized in this case. The agency alleged that officials used the illegally obtained money for personal expenses and investments. ED can soon make bigger revelations in the investigation of this case.
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