In a first, a practising advocate is among three men convicted in a land grabbing case by the Land Grabbing Prohibition Special Court on Thursday.

The advocate, Shivaramu Venkataramaiah, and two others, Chikkaveeraiah K (45) and H N Venkatramaiah (68), are residents of Kodathakkal village in Tumakuru Taluk and have been sentenced to three years simple imprisonment with a fine of Rs 25,000.

A three-member bench headed by special court judge Justice H N Narayan delivered the verdict.

In the year 1978, the government had acquired 7 acres and 13 guntas from survey no 17/1 in Jinega village, Kora sub-division, Tumakuru taluk, for constructing a lake.

The government had also paid appropriate compensation to landowners. After the acquisition, the land became government property.

Documents fabricated

The convicts fabricated the documents and grabbed the government land without having any title over the property.

A complaint was lodged against the convicts in 2016 at the Land Grabbing Prohibition Special Court which conducted a detailed inquiry.

Special public prosecutor B S Patil submitted reports and argued on behalf of the state government.

“This is a first instance where a practising advocate has been convicted in land grabbing prohibition special court under the Land Grabbing Prohibition Special Act,” said Patil.