In land scam complaint ACB books junior officials

The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has booked three lower-rung officials of the Revenue Department in a land scam involving former chief secretary Arvind Jadhav, Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner, Anekal assistant commissioner and tahsildar.

The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged following a complaint by an RTI activist against the senior officials for indulging in forgery, manipulation of government records, illegal transfer of government land, nepotism and corruption. 

S Bhaskaran lodged the complaint with the ACB on August 23, 2016, alleging a land scam involving more than 66 acres of government land in Ramanayakanahalli village, Anekal taluk. Ironically, the ACB reports to the chief secretary and the chief minister. 

“Survey number 29 had precisely 74 acres of government land. But just 4.5 acres remain after being granted to several individuals,” said Bhaskaran. 

Jadhav’s mother Tara Bai had purchased 16.5 acres of land from seven to eight title holders in the same survey number in which she had apparently bought another 2.5 acres, a plot belonging to one Ramakrishnaiah. It was later learnt by the original landowner Ramakrishnaiah that a person named Chandrashekariah had impersonated him and dealt the land to Tara Bai. Ramakrishnaiah then approached the assistant commissioner, Anekal division, and cancelled the sale deed executed between Tara Bai and Chandrashekariah, added Bhaskaran.

In 2016, Tara Bai claimed the Podi proceedings be held in her name not only for the 16.5 acres of land but also for the other 2.5 acres, which were restored to the original
owner.

The revenue officials, without conducting the Podi proceedings, issued a Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) in Tara Bai’s name by using her son official clout, the activist claimed. 

The officials named in the FIR are Arun, a surveyor in Anekal taluk, D B Gangiah, surveyor supervisor, and Yogananda Gowda, a checking supervisor. As the FIR names only the three lower-rung officials and not Jadhav, his mother or other officials, Bhaskaran is contemplating approaching the high court for quashing the FIR.

“I want this case to be investigated by a competitive agency other than the ACB,” he said.