The Lokayukta police in Chikkamagaluru have initiated legal proceedings against Sringeri Congress MLA T.D. Raje Gowda and his family, filing a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988. This action, taken on September 23, followed a directive from a special court in Bengaluru designated for public representatives.
The investigation stems from a complaint filed by Dinesh H.K., a Koppa resident from Chikkamagaluru district, who petitioned the court for action against the MLA and his relatives. Mr. Dinesh accused Mr. Raje Gowda of widespread corruption, abuse of power, and defrauding both the state treasury and the Income Tax Department. Acting on this, the court issued an order on September 16, instructing the Lokayukta Police to officially register a First Information Report (FIR) and proceed with a thorough inquiry.
In his court submission, the complainant detailed how the accused allegedly accumulated assets far exceeding their declared income, purportedly in collaboration with family members. To substantiate these claims, Mr. Dinesh pointed to various transactions involving a partnership firm named M/s Shabana Ramzan.
Established in 1984, the firm was initially owned by Haji Aurangazeb and other individuals. By 1992, S.V. Gangaiah Hegde, V.G. Siddhartha, and Malavika Hegde joined as partners. Through this entity, they acquired a 266-acre coffee estate. A year later, in 1993, the original founding partners stepped down. Subsequently, the firm secured substantial loans from various banks, including Bank of Baroda, using the acquired estates as collateral.
After the passing of Siddhartha and his father Gangaiah Hegde in 2019, Mr. Raje Gowda’s wife, D.K. Pushpa, was brought into the firm as a partner, acquiring a 48% stake. The MLA’s son, Rajdev T.R., also became a partner within a few months.
The complainant alleged that the accused proceeded to settle a mortgage loan of ₹55.75 crore with Standard Chartered Bank, repaid ₹66 crore to Bank of Baroda, and an additional ₹81.95 lakh to Karnataka Bank. This activity is highlighted against the backdrop of the MLA’s reported annual income of only ₹40 lakh, as declared in an affidavit to the Lokayukta during that period.
Based on these financial records, Mr. Dinesh asserted that the MLA had accumulated wealth significantly exceeding his legitimate income sources. Initially, he presented these documents to the Lokayukta, requesting an inquiry. When no satisfactory action was taken, he escalated the matter to the court. The court then requested a report from the Lokayukta Superintendent of Police, who, after a preliminary inquiry, filed a report in 2023 clearing the accused of the allegations. Dissatisfied, the complainant challenged this report, leading to the current situation where the Lokayukta Police have registered the FIR and confirmed their intent to thoroughly investigate the case.