Demonetized currency, 200 grams of gold found in a retired engineer’s locker

Lokayukta officials examining bundles of demonetised ₹1,000 notes recovered from a locker belonging to engineer Manik Kanakatti at the SBI branch near NV College in Kalaburagi on Wednesday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Demonetized ₹1,000 notes with a face value of ₹9 lakh and gold ornaments weighing over 200 grams were found in a bank locker belonging to retired Public Works Department (PWD) engineer Manik Kanakatti during a search operation by the Lokayukta in Kalaburagi.

The locker was inspected at the State Bank of India branch near NV College on Wednesday by a Lokayukta team, which conducted a search at Mr. Kanakatti’s Godutai Nagar residence and other places on Tuesday.

During the inspection, the officials recovered several bundles of demonetised ₹1,000 notes which remained in the locker since demonetisation in 2016. The team also found various gold ornaments, including rings and jewellery, weighing more than 20 tolas.

Cash and gold ornaments were seized.

The search was conducted under the direction of Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Siddaraju C.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Basavaraj, Inspector of Police Arun Kumar Rajasekhar Badadesar and other Lokayukta staff were present during the operation.

Published – 17 Jun 2026 19:13 IST