Shockwaves have hit Karnataka’s education system after the Karnataka Lokayukta launched surprise raids that exposed serious irregularities in procurement and alleged misappropriation within the Department of School Education and Literacy, Karnataka. The investigation revealed poor-quality electronic purchases for government schools, and disproportionate assets seized from officials — raising pressing questions about accountability and systemic corruption. So far, the raids have unearthed evidence of inflated prices, substandard supplies, and allegedly illicit wealth amassed by education officials, prompting calls for thorough reforms and punitive action
What the Lokayukta Found: Faulty Procurement & Overpriced Supplies
During inspections across several districts, Lokayukta teams discovered that government-supplied electronic gadgets meant for schools — including smart boards, laptops, projectors, UPS units and all-in-one PCs — failed to meet mandatory specifications set by the state’s Technical Approval Panel (TAP). Officials reported excess payments ranging from INR 10,000 to 40,000 per item compared to market value — for example, electronic items like UPS units and smart TVs were grossly overpriced. Moreover, none of the supplied equipment came with the required minimum three-year warranty, and crucial procedural steps — such as obtaining written acknowledgments from school heads or physical verification of installations — were entirely skipped. The raids also highlighted administrative negligence. In the Bengaluru North jurisdiction alone, the concerned Deputy Director of Public Instructions (DDPI) was criticized for failing to verify installations or ensure compliance.
Illicit Wealth: Former Director’s Assets Seized, Systemic Corruption Unveiled
As part of the broader probe, the Lokayukta seized disproportionate assets amounting to INR 7.32 crore from a former director of the school education department. In a deeper sweep across multiple government departments, raids targeting 12 officials recovered a cumulative stash — including land, houses, vehicles, cash, jewelry, and investments — valued at over INR 38 crore. These findings demonstrate that the education department’s corruption isn’t limited to procurement — but extends to institutionalized enrichment by high-level officials.
Impact on Schools and Public Trust
The revelations have severe implications for thousands of government schools across Karnataka. Students — especially in rural or underprivileged areas — may have received poor-quality or dysfunctional equipment, which undermines the very objective of modernising education infrastructure. Moreover, the misuse of public funds and alleged graft erodes public trust, and raises serious concerns about oversight, transparency, and administrative accountability in the education system.
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