Land scam probe on fast track

The Lokayukta police are likely to approach the State Government seeking permission to file charge-sheets against former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu and his son Katta Jagadish.

Seven criminal cases were filed in connection with the scam. Charge-sheets have been filed in four cases against 15 public servants and others, including four KAS officers - Nagaraj, J C Anil Kumar, H S Ramakrishna, Chikkabettaiah and Bangalore North former Tahsildar Dhanalakshmi.

Two charge-sheets each were filed on Tuesday and Wednesday before the Lokayukta Special Judge N K Sudhindra Rao. In all, seven charge-sheets have been filed. No chargesheet has been filed in three other cases.

Probe into the three cases, involving the former minister, his son and KIADB retired Land Acquisition Officer T P Muninarayanappa, was stayed by the High Court. Hence, investigation was stopped.

The Lokayukta police got a breather when the stay was vacated by the High Court on June 21, 2011.

As soon as the stay was vacated, K Madhukar Shetty, Superintendent of Lokayukta Police (SP), Bangalore, speeded up the probe, with a number of teams being formed.

They were tasked with completing the probe within a week. During the period, Jagadish was subjected to interrogation five times, whereas his father was questioned twice. The former minister was interrogated by Shetty and Lokayukta Deputy SP S Girish on June 26 and 29, and his statements were recorded.

The father-son duo was questioned on receiving Rs 85 crore as kickbacks from the controversial firm, Itasca Software, for allotting 325 acres to it. They were also interrogated about the land acquired for three special economic zones (SEZs) at Jala hobli.

Sabbatical

Shetty left for the United States on Thursday on a two-year sabbatical. During his tenure as SP in the last two years and eight months, Shetty was instrumental in the Lokayukta police netting a number of ministers and legislators on charges of corruption.