JOIN USThe issue paralysed the proceedings of the House for the second day. The Chief Minister refused to hand over the case to an investigation agency, following which the Opposition paraded to Raj Bhavan at 5 pm. The members of the Congress and the JD(S), led by Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and JD(S) floor leader H D Revanna met Governor Hans Raj Bharadwaj and and sought his intervention in the issue.
In a nine-page memorandum submitted to the Governor, the opposition parties alleged that “the Government has committed a gross illegality and fraud” in purchasing land for a housing project in Chikaballapur. It also charged that the irregularities were done on the behest of the Chief Minister.
“We (opposition parties) have found out from our enquiries that the CM, the then Housing Minister Krishnaiah Setty, the KHB Commissioner, the then Housing Secretary, KHB Chairman G T Deve Gowda are all hand in glove in this illegal transaction and they are indirect beneficiaries,” the memorandum stated.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the Governor, Siddaramaiah said the Governor has assured to take appropriate action as per the provisions of the Constitution.
He also said that one Pinto wanted to sell 500 acres of land to the KHB in Chikaballapur at the rate of Rs 30 lakh an acre. Intead. KHB purchased 31 acres of land from Srinivasa Setty, brother of Krishnaiah Setty, by paying Rs 50 lakh per acre while the guidance value of the government was Rs 5 lakh.
Land price
* Land bought at Rs 7 lakh per acre in Koppal in 2006-07, while the guidance value was Rs 40,000.
*Land bought at Rs 14 lakh per acre in Kottekara village, Mangalore, in 2004-05, while the guidance value was Rs 2.6 lakh.
*Land bought at Rs 16 lakh per acre in Kenchalagoodu in Mysore in 2007-08 against the guidance value of Rs 2 lakh.
*Land bought at Rs 8.5 lakh in Nanjanagudu at Rs 8.5 acre, against Rs 2 lakh guidance value.
*Land bought at 40 lakh per acre in Ramanagar in 2007-08 though guidance value was Rs 2 lakh per acre.