Latest news with #Ningappa
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Insider job suspected as Karnataka cop extorts money from govt officials by posing as Lokayukta officer, invests in crypto
Karnataka's Lokayukta police have searched an IPS officer's home after the arrest of a dismissed head constable accused of extorting Rs 4.19 crore from government officials by posing as a Lokayukta officer and investing extortion money in cryptocurrencies. The IPS officer, Srinath Mahadev Joshi, served as superintendent of police (Bengaluru city-1) with the Lokayukta until June 12. G Ningappa, also known as Ningappa Sawanth, the former head constable from Chitradurga, was allegedly helped by a senior Lokayukta police officer in his extortion activities. The Lokayukta said in a statement on Tuesday that 35 cases had been registered at various police stations where government officials, mainly from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the excise department, were approached for extortion money. It is suspected that Ningappa used the names not only of Lokayukta-attached police officers but also of the Lokayukta and the Upa Lokayukta. Ningappa is accused of calling government officials over the phone to extort money ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Investigations have established that Ningappa collected approximately Rs 58 lakh from excise officials alone. He received money through various channels, including UPI transfers, and the money was subsequently transferred to his cryptocurrency portfolios. The Lokayukta has discovered 13 cryptocurrency wallets Ningappa allegedly had. He reportedly invested in Binance and Bitget cryptocurrencies. A police officer said that Ningappa frequently visited the Lokayukta headquarters but went largely unnoticed. He is said to have operated for six months and been meeting certain IPS officers who provided him with confidential information regarding upcoming raids and pending reports about government officials accused of wrongdoing. Armed with such information, Ningappa bought multiple SIM cards in the name of government officials and used several IPS officers' names on caller IDs. He used the same SIM cards to call his extortion targets. Lokayukta officials had been watching Ningappa's confident movement to the IPS officer's chambers in the headquarters. A police officer said that Srinath Mahadev Joshi had even visited Ningappa's home in Chitradurga and was felicitated by his family. 'We also have records of Ningappa visiting Joshi's residence in Bengaluru multiple times,' an officer added. Ningappa's arrest has given rise to several speculations, especially at the bureaucratic level as some officials who spoke to suspect the involvement of top officials of the anti-corruption agency. However, this is not the first time Lokayukta has come under public scrutiny. In 2015, Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao had to step down after his son Ashwin Rao was arrested on charges of running an extortion racket from the agency's offices. Bhaskar Rao was also named as one of the accused in the case. Following the controversy, the then Congress government shut the Lokayukta and established the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). However, the BJP government later abolished the ACB and revived the Lokayukta. Lokayukta head B S Patil has directed officials to initiate action against suspects, sources said. He has formally requested the government to establish a dedicated 'vigilance wing' within the Lokayukta structure. The proposed wing would operate under a sitting district judge's supervision, ensuring continuous oversight of police activities and preventing future misconduct.
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Lokayukta raids ex-SP Joshi's house in probe linked to dismissed cop Ningappa
BENGALURU: Lokayukta police searched the house of their former Superintendent of Police (Bengaluru City Division-1) Srinath M Joshi, following the lead obtained in the ongoing investigation against dismissed head constable G Ningappa from Chitradurga district. Ningappa was arrested for allegedly collecting crores of rupees from several state government officials by leaking information of possible raids against them, after obtaining information from his 'sources' within the Karnataka Lokayukta. During a search conducted at the IPS officer's residence in southeast Bengaluru, Lokayukta police recovered Rs 32,000 in cash, a few gold ornaments and documents. Police issued notice to Joshi to appear before them for inquiry, and Joshi is said to have sought 2-3 days time. The probe had revealed that Joshi was in constant touch with Ningappa, which was disclosed in the call details records. Joshi is said to have visited Ningappa's house in Chitradurga, where he was even felicitated, and Ningappa had also reportedly visited the IPS officer's house in Bengaluru. Joshi was relieved as Lokayukta SP, Bengaluru City-1, last week. Sources in the Lokayukta stated that Joshi was relieved as he was to be sent back to his parent department. It was in keeping with his Joshi's request as he had completed three years in the institution. Preliminary investigations had revealed that Ningappa had invested several crores of rupees in cryptocurrency in his own name, and that of his wife and certain IPS officers. He had invested Rs 4.19 crore in eight cryptocurrency exchange firms, and Lokayukta police are yet to obtain details of the money he invested in several other exchange firms. Ningappa moves bail petition Meanwhile, Ningappa applied for bail before the Special Court for Lokayukta Cases, which adjourned the hearing to June 19 to file objections, if any, while also handing over Ningappa to judicial custody till June 30. On the other hand, Ningappa's wife Chandrakala moved the high court, alleging that her husband's arrest was illegal.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Lokayukta raid fear: ex-cop extorts crores from officials, invests in crypto
BENGALURU: A former police head constable allegedly converted into cryptocurrency several crores of rupees he reportedly collected by blackmailing government officials and leaking advance information on possible raids by Lokayukta police. He also secured tip-offs on impending raids from his 'sources' within the Lokayukta office. The ongoing interrogation of G Ningappa, also known as Ningappa Sawanth (46), from Chitradurga — arrested by the Lokayukta police under the Prevention of Corruption Act on 2 June — has revealed that the money he allegedly extorted from government officials was invested in cryptocurrency wallets registered under multiple names, including those of certain IPS officers serving in the Lokayukta. Lokayukta police have written to nearly 25 companies to ascertain the total amount Ningappa invested through centralised and decentralised cryptocurrency transactions. Ningappa, who had been posted in Chitradurga, was dismissed from service for misconduct a few years ago. According to sources, Ningappa's mobile phone was sent to the CID cyber wing for mirror imaging and examination of cryptocurrency transactions. The initial probe revealed that he invested Rs 4.19 crore in eight cryptocurrency exchange platforms, including Binance and Bitget. The investments were made in his name, his wife Chandrakala's name, and the names of some officers. The Lokayukta police also seized approximately 90 grams of gold ornaments from his residence in Chitradurga, along with several incriminating documents.
