Lokayukta cops told to probe plaint against BSY, Somanna

A private complaint had been filed by a software engineer, Ravi Krishna Reddy, alleging that 22 guntas of denotified land in Nagadevanahalli in Kengeri hobli, had been transferred to Somanna’s wife Shylaja and subsequently, this land was denotified by Yeddyurappa in 2009.

Judge Sudhindra Rao handed over the probe to the Superintendent of Lokayukta Police, Bangalore Urban, under Section 156(3) of Code of Criminal Procedure and directed him to submit the final report of investigation on December 26.

The complaint, filed by Ravi Krishna Reddy, states that survey No 77 and 78 in Nagadevanahalli was acquired by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for the formation of Jnanabharathi Layout and the final notification was published in January 1994. A compensation of Rs 6.83 lakh was also awarded by the BDA in July, 1997.

Sale deed executed

In 2004, Lingaiah, the owner, executed a sale deed for a plot in survey No 78 in favour of Shylaja, wife of Somanna. Other plots measuring 22 guntas in total in the same name, were also registered on Shylaja’s name the same day, even though the land belonged to BDA. Lingaiah also executed a rectification deed in favour of Shylaja to allow for construction, stating that the 22 guntas had been denotified.

In 2005, Lingaiah applied for denotification of land. But the request was shot down by the denotification committee, on the ground that the land already vested with the BDA.

In 2009, Lingaiah submitted yet another application for denotification of land, and this was cleared by Yeddyurappa, despite strong reservations expressed by the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department, the complaint noted.