Lokayukta transfers Bengaluru SP Shivaprakash Devaraj amid major corruption probes

On Friday morning, Bengaluru unit Lokayukta Superintendent of Police (SP) Shivaprakash Devaraj was repatriated to his parent department, sparking widespread speculation in official circles. The sudden transfer occurred just two days after Lokayukta police led by Devaraj searched the residence of Bengaluru Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Jagadish in Yelahanka, in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore government land scam.

According to sources, Devaraj learned of his repatriation on Friday morning after receiving a memorandum from the Lokayukta Registrar. While the Lokayukta described the transfer as a routine administrative decision without assigning any specific reason, the timing has drawn intense attention because the officer was leading several highly sensitive investigations.

In the wake of Devaraj's sudden departure, Bengaluru Rural SP Mahanteshwar S. Jiddi has been given additional charge of the vacant post to oversee the unit's operations.

Before his repatriation, Devaraj was actively overseeing multiple major corruption cases. Among these was the investigation into the alleged illegal transfer of government gomala land worth nearly Rs 100 crore near Yelahanka. It was this specific probe that led to the search of ADC Jagadish's home and other locations earlier in the week.

Devaraj was also leading investigations into suspected irregularities within the Excise Department. This case involved the alleged allocation of more than 30 liquor licences to relatives and associates, including the brother-in-law of Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi. Additionally, he was overseeing recent raids on the offices of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB).

The sudden removal of the senior officer has triggered discussions among officials regarding the interruption of these ongoing, high-profile corruption investigations. Devaraj had recently intensified actions against an alleged network of officials accused of corruption across multiple government departments, and his sudden exit has left the future of these cases under scrutiny.