Report on MLA's illegal land deal submitted

In a private complaint, Puttaswamy, a resident of Kereguddadahalli in Yeshwantpur hobli had alleged that Muniraju fabricated documents to gobble up one acre 15 guntas of land belonging to Puttaswamy’s mother-in-law Mallamma. He has also suspected the involvement of then tahsildar of Bangalore North Ranganath, Revenue Inspector Suresh, Parameshwarappa and Rajamma.

According to the complaint, the government had acquired one acre and 15 guntas of land belonging to Mallamma under the Urban Land Ceiling Act. Mallamma approached the High Court challenging the acquisition.

A single judge dismissed her application. Later, she approached the High Court Division Bench, which ruled in her favour in 2007 and directed the government to return the land to original landowners.

When Mallamma tried to apply for a mutation before the Bangalore North tahsildar, Muniraju and others prevented her. In 2009, Nagaraju, who owned land measuring one acre in the adjoining area sold land measuring one acre and 28 guntas to three others using fake documents.

One of these was Keshavamurthy who purchased one acre from Nagaraj. Keshavamurthy sold 30 guntas to Muniraju, by fabricating documents.

An attempt was also made to transfer 37 guntas of land to Parmeshwarappa and Rajamma. Muniraju also sold nine guntas of the non-existent land to one Pushpa. Using fake documents, Muniraju, Parameshwarappa and Rajamma attempted to get mutation of the land belonging to Mallamma. But, Revenue Inspector Ramesh rejected the application as he found the documents suspicious. Ramesh was transferred and his successor Suresh, who was more obliging, began processing Muniraju’s application for mutation.

Puttaswamy has also submitted evidence of a ‘sting operation’ done on revenue officials, who supposedly revealed the modus operandi of the land grabbing and the involvement of the MLA in the matter. A transcript of the recording has also been submitted to the Court.

The complaint has been lodged under Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code. The complainant had approached the Lokayukta as early as December 2009 with the complaint. In June 2011, the Lokayukta office after inquiry had issued a report stating that Mallamma had complete rights over the land.

The Court has directed the police to submit the final report on January 17, 2012.