Bengaluru: A sweeper, turned outsourced office assistant at the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Corporation (KRIDL) in Koppal district has been the owner of properties worth over Rs 100 crore.

The shocking revelation came after the Karnataka Lokayukta raided the KRIDL office in Koppal, following a complaint against the Chief Executive Engineer Z M Chincholikar that there has been misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 72 crore in the works taken up between 2022 – 2024.

However, during the raid, the Lokayukta police grew suspicious over the office assistant Kalakappa Nidagundi of Bandi village in neighbouring Yalaburga taluk. Both Chincholikar and Nidagundi were immediately suspended and the search operations continued. However, Chincholikar managed to obtain a stay from the KAT and has been transferred to Davanagere.

During the search operations, the Lokayukta police stumbled on interesting facts about Kalakappa Nidagundi. He started his career as a sweeper in the KRIDL office, Koppal. Later in 2003, he was registered as an outsourced employee and made the office assistant. Since then, he has been the office assistant of the Koppal division.

While investigating the Rs 72 crore misappropriation in 108 works taken up by KRIDL  during 2022-2024, the Lokayukta police realised that Kalakappa Nidagundi was the mastermind of the scam. The Lokayukta police decided to go after the property he had amassed and were shocked to see that he was owning two luxurious cars, along with other properties, which is worth over Rs 100 crore.

According to Lokayukta police, Nidagundi has 24 houses in Koppal and Bhagya Nagar near Bagalakot. He has over 40 acres of farmland in the name of his wife, brother and brother-in-law. Besides, he owns over 50 housing plots in places like Bandi, Hitnal, Huligi and Yalaburga. The Lokayukta police have seized two cars, two bikes, 350 gms of gold and 1.5 kg silver from his house, which were unaccounted for.

Recently, there has been a rise in housebreaking cases in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane, which has resulted in a coordinated police initiative that led to the capture of the infamous Chaddi-Baniya gang. Significantly, law enforcement captured two siblings by employing an ingenious strategy that involved a water truck to ensnare them.

This group had created anxiety in the neighborhood, as their actions were frequently hard to track. Investigations showed that the gang leased a house and utilised a path through a different city during their heists, making detection more difficult.

A significant development occurred when authorities discovered that the gang leader’s brother was imprisoned at Yerwada jail, leading to additional investigations into the gang’s familial ties. This directed them to a chawl in Sabe village, where the gang was believed to live.

Law enforcement formulated a strategy to collect additional information by delivering water from a tanker, earning the confidence of the community. Ultimately, a group of 25-30 officers encircled the chawl and apprehended the suspects, recognized as Shahaji Pawar and Ankush Pawar, hailing from Kalamb in the Dharashiv district.

In the meantime, the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Crime Branch celebrated another major success by capturing members of a gang that had robbed an industrialist in the Nigdi Authority region, recovering valuables valued at Rs 6.15 lakh following a 11,200-kilometre pursuit in Rajasthan.

Similar Incident

A 37-year-old history-sheeter, Mohammad, was arrested for a shooting incident in Dharavi, Mumbai, where Sarvar Begum Shaikh, 32, was injured while shopping. The incident occurred on July 27 at 90 Feet Road. Sarvar was shot in the hand, and after surgery at Sion Hospital, her condition is stable.

Initially unaware of the injury, she realised something was wrong when blood started to flow. Police are investigating whether she was a random victim or caught in crossfire, reviewing CCTV footage, and examining Mohammad’s potential link to other crimes. A case was registered under relevant laws.

Mumbai: On July 30, the Sakinaka police raided a drug godown in Powai seizing 21.903kg of Mephedrone (MD) and chemicals worth Rs44 crore at Shop No. 9, Prathmesh Galaxy, Hiranandani.

The operation followed the dismantling of an interstate drug racket and a factory shutdown in Mysuru, Karnataka. In total, the police have seized 214 kg of MD, chemicals, and equipment valued at Rs434 crore, including an earlier haul of Rs390 crore.

Investigating Officer Dayanand Walave said: “In this case, we have already arrested accused. During further interrogation, one of them revealed that they were operating a godown in Powai. Subsequently, we raided the location. The godown was situated on the ground floor of a residential building. The ground floor of the building has several shops, and the upper floors have residential flats. The accused had told neighbouring shopkeepers building members that they were running a colour distribution business. Under that guise, they were storing drugs, chemicals, and equipment.”

The case began on April 24, 2025, with the arrest of Sadiq Shaikh, 27, in Sakinaka, caught with 52 gram of MD. Further investigation led to seven more arrests, including four from Mumbai, Gujarat, and Mysuru, and another four from the Mysuru factory. On July 25, Salim Shaikh alias Slim Langda, 45, revealed the factory’s location, leading to a raid on July 26 at a facility near Belavatha, Mysuru. An additional 4.53kg of MD worth Rs8 crore was seized from Kaman village, Vasai.

Three of the eight arrested have prior involvement in similar cases, with one facing 16 charges under the NDPS Act and for assault. The police, under Deputy Commissioner of Police Datta Nalawade, suspect more individuals are involved and anticipate further breakthroughs.