Mangaluru: Lokayukta raid exposes massive irregularities in MCC

Mangaluru: Lokayukta raid exposes massive irregularities in MCC

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 24, 2025: A surprise raid conducted by the Karnataka Lokayukta’s Mangaluru and Udupi divisions has uncovered widespread administrative irregularities and negligence across multiple departments of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC).

The inspection, carried out under a search warrant issued by the Lokayukta, was led by deputy superintendent of police Dr Gana P Kumar, along with officials Suresh Kumar P, inspectors Bharathi G, Chandrashekar K N (Mangaluru), and Manjunath and Rajendra Naik M N (Udupi). The operation scrutinized the functioning of the revenue, health, engineering, accounts, and town planning departments, as well as the commissioner’s office.

Key Findings

Middlemen and Unaccounted Cash:

The revenue and town planning sections were found to be rife with middlemen. One broker was caught with ₹5 lakh in unaccounted cash. Even more shocking, a retired health officer who left service 15 years ago was still functioning in the same position, raising serious red flags about procedural violations.

Health Department Lapses:

Several discrepancies were identified in the health department. Numerous trade licence files remained pending on the MCC portal, and many businesses had failed to renew their licences, with no efforts made to collect the due fees.

Engineering and Accounts Issues:

The engineering wing had several outdated, pending files, while the accounts department faced criticism for delaying bill clearances.

Town Planning Violations:

Building permits were reportedly issued in violation of established norms. In some instances, structures that had earlier received demolition orders were later granted approval. The probe suspects direct involvement of senior officials, including engineers and possibly the MCC commissioner.

Negligence in Drainage and Pollution Control:

Officials in the underground drainage (UGD) and stormwater sections were found negligent in stopping illegal drainage connections, leading to drain overflows and unsanitary conditions during rains. Several large apartment complexes lacking the required sewage treatment plant (STP) capacity had been cleared without fulfilling legal requirements, resulting in untreated waste flowing into rivers and streams.

Superintendent of Police (in-charge), Karnataka Lokayukta Mangaluru, Kumarachandra confirmed that a detailed report of the inspection findings will be forwarded to the Lokayukta’s central office for appropriate action.