BENGALURU: KAS officer B Sudha could be the Imelda Marcos of Bengaluru. The local officer had a wardrobe full of gold jewellery that could put a jewellery showroom to shame, a la the former Filipino First Lady, who had row upon rows of high-end shoes, clothes and jewellery.
After a raid at Sudha’s house on Thindlu Main Road near Kodigehalli on Saturday morning, Anti-Corruption Bureau officials came out with bags full of gold jewellery, Rs 10 lakh cash and documents pertaining to real estate properties. Sudha, who was the land acquisition officer at Bangalore Development Authority, had acquired more assets than her salary could justify.
Raids conducted in Mysuru, Udupi too
There was high drama when ACB officials knocked on her door in the morning. The moment Sudha saw the raiding party, she started screaming, and locked the door from inside. ACB officials warned that they will bring the local police to break the door open and her entire neighbourhood would learn about the raid. Only then did she allow the officers inside.
A special team that included women officials searched her properties and office. ACB stated that a case of disproportionate assets and irregularity had been filed against Sudha, who is now an administrative officer at the IT-BT department, in June 2020. Based on an FIR, the sleuths conducted simultaneous raids at six places, including her two houses at Thindlu and Yelahanka in Bengaluru, her friend’s residences in Mysuru and Udupi and her current office at Shathinagar on Lalbagh Road.
The raid went on for more than five hours. Sudha came under the scanner after a public complaint was filed before a court by TJ Abraham, president of the Anti-Corruption and Environmental Forum. He alleged that Sudha was involved in corruption over the last few years. The ACB acted after the court issued an order to conduct the raids, an ACB press release stated.
Sudha’s husband Stroiney Pais is a Kannada film producer and tried to launch their son with a home production in 2018. Abraham told TNSE, “I had complained to ACB in June 2019 and January 2020. But they did not take it seriously. I then decided to approach the court and filed a petition in June this year. The court issued the order after verifying the documents. The police then registered the FIR against her and asked me to provide documents and other details on her involvement. I had recordings of Sudha openly demanding Rs 5 lakh to sign each file.”
Not the first time
in 2015, the Lokayukta police had raided Sudha’s residence and other officials over an alleged illegal transfer of agricultural land to residential purpose. She was then the additional land acquisition officer at BDA.
Raids in six places
The raids were conducted on her residence named Aaradhana in Thindlu, a flat belonging to her in
Shivanahalli at Yelahanka, her current office in Shanthi Nagar and her friends’residences on Ballari Road, BEML Layout in Mysuru and a residence in Udupi.