In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that the Karnataka Excise Department operated like an organized syndicate involving public officials, their associates, and private individuals for bribe collection. Following extensive searches across Karnataka, the ED conducted raids based on allegations of systemic corruption within the Excise Department and the accumulation of disproportionate assets by government officials.
The searches targeted key individuals like Excise Department officials Jagdish Nayak, K.M. Thammanna, and Y.D. Manjunath, along with their family members, business partners, and close associates. The ED revealed that the Excise Department functioned as a network of corruption, with bribes collected from various excise shops and distributed through intermediaries and associates.
According to the ED statement, the seized evidence included incriminating materials like digital devices, property documents, and a cash book detailing bribe distribution. The total proceeds of crime seized amounted to Rs 13.3 crore, including cash, gold jewelry, and foreign currency. The investigation is ongoing to trace the proceeds of crime and identify additional beneficiaries involved in the alleged corruption network.
