Officials from Karnataka take three houses, five plots, and lakhs of rupees from a gardener’s house in Bengaluru.

Over 300 ACB officers descended on 21 state government personnel in 80 places on suspicion of amassing assets above their recognized sources of income.

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The riches of Shivalingaiah, a gardener with the Bangalore Development Authority, shocked Karnataka Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officers. Officials have reportedly taken his three mansions, five prime plots in Bengaluru, agricultural and commercial properties in Channapatna in Ramanagara district, and Mysuru, all worth crores of rupees, according to news reports.

Over 300 ACB agents raided 80 sites in search of 21 state government employees suspected of amassing assets out of proportion to their recognized sources of income.

On Friday, the raid began early in the morning.

The ACB had gathered substantial evidence that 21 government officials had excessive assets. As a result, 80 teams of 555 police and personnel raided 80 distinct locations in various regions around the state simultaneously.

"A raid on a gardener with Bengaluru Development Authority found four houses, one open site, 510-gram gold ornaments, 700-gram silver articles, 1 acre 9 guntas of agriculture land, two two-wheelers, three cars, 86,000 cash, 80,000 savings/deposits, and household articles worth 10,00,000," according to news agency ANI.

Engineers from the Irrigation Department, Public Works Department, Rural Development, anda Panchayat Raj departments were among those searched.

A police inspector, a District Registrar in the office of the Inspector General of Registration, a Road Transport Officer, a Nirmithi Kendra Project Director, a Panchayat Grade-2 secretary in Gadag district, and an assistant comptroller in the veterinary department were among those whose offices were raided.