Bengaluru: A total of 1,451 public servants, from senior bureaucrats to frontline clerical staff, have been booked by Karnataka Lokayukta police over a four-year period, highlighting the widespread nature of alleged corruption across departments.Data shows that between Sept 2022, and Aug 2026, the anti-corruption watchdog registered 1,248 cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against 1,451 persons. These include 939 bribery trap cases and 309 disproportionate-assets (DA) cases. In addition, 115 cases were related to failure to discharge day-to-day duties and procedural lapses.The data was disclosed in written replies submitted to the legislative council in response to questions raised by MLCs Dhananjaya Sarji and Madhu G Madegowda.Chief minister DK Shivakumar, who provided the information to the House, said the Lokayukta police have filed chargesheets in 364 of the 1,248 cases. Investigations in 218 cases have been stayed by various courts, while police have filed ‘B’ final reports in 18 cases. The remaining 648 cases are under investigation.A ‘B’ report is a final closure report filed by police when an investigation finds no evidence or prima facie case against the accused, or when a complaint is found to be false or frivolous.Due to pending investigations, trials and judicial stays, no convictions or dismissals were recorded so far in these specific 1,248 cases, but in separate cases tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act since 2023, special courts have convicted 148 public servants.The CM said the Lokayukta administration has engaged special counsels to move courts seeking the vacation of interim stay orders and the expeditious disposal of trap cases.The data the accused govt officials include 733 Group-C employees, followed by 376 Group-B employees, 28 Group-D employees, 12 Group-A officers and 27 KAS officers. One case each involved an IAS and an IPS officer, while 49 outsourced employees were also named as accused.The cases involved officials and employees from various departments, including health, engineering, commercial taxes, police, revenue, food and civil supplies, rural development and panchayat raj, among other govt departments.In a separate move to strengthen vigilance and prevent corruption, the govt recently directed all govt employees to disclose their assets and liabilities for 2026-27. They will also have to submit the details annually by the end of March in subsequent years.The govt has made it mandatory for all govt employees to submit immovable property returns (IPR) through the state’s e-PAR application from Aug 20.
