JOIN USVIPs misused insider info on KIADB projects
According to sources in the Revenue department, hundreds of acres of land were bought or agreements were made with the farmers by the end of December last year. This is said to be a modus operandi to either loot government money or increase the value of the properties in the event of KIADB coming up with a mega project.
The Devanahalli Taluk Office had prepared a detailed revenue report in this connection and submitted it to the KIADB, sources said. The report showed that Kundala Hobli had some 9,000 acres of land including 6,000 acres owned by private persons.
Revenue sources added that an influential person in the government had bought 2,200 acres in the six villages of Ramanathapura, Arruvanahalli, Byradenahalli, Chapparadahalli, Doddagollahalli, Rabbanahalli. These lands were meant for KIADB’s acquisition plans.
Sources added that agriculture lands were bought in these interior villages of Devanahalli when its price was merely Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh and the land owners were expecting the KIADB to pay them anywhere between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 50 lakh. The KIADB in many cases had allegedly paid whatever prices land owners had quoted and did not consult locals or revenue officials regarding existing market prices, the sources added.
After the Lokayukta unearthed the Rs 500-crore KIADB scam, the Board now appears to be on the back foot regarding its land acquisition plans in the 20 villages of Kundana hobli. However, these dealings are also on Lokayukta radar, Lokayukta sources said.
Lokayukta probe in final stage
The Lokayukta inquiry into the multi-crore KIADB scam is nearly complete and charge sheet will be filed soon.
Sources in the Lokayukta said, the probe had ranged from selling government land to the KIADB, to bribery and acquiring land from private individuals on price much higher than the existing market rate.
“There is still room to incorporate further details. But we think our probe is nearly complete and we are ready to file charge sheet,” sources said.