JOIN USCongress legislator D K Shivakumar has taken up the cause of Nandi Infrastructure and Corridor Enterprises (Nice) director Ashok Kheny.
The MLA on Wednesday accused the police of not initiating action against Forest Minister C P Yogeeshwara on a complaint filed by a private company that the minister had cheated them of Rs two crore.
Raising the issue in the Legislative Assembly, Shivakumar said Nandi Engineering Limited engaged in the construction of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Project by Nandi Infrastructure and Corridor Enterprises had issued two cheques for Rs two crore to Yogeeshwara in 2005 for acquisition of land near Bidadi for the project.
A complaint registered with the Vidhana Soudha police on Tuesday states that Yogeeshwara had approached Kheny saying he would ensure speedy land acquisition.
The company released Rs two crore to Yogeeshwara. However, the complainant, A Rudragoud, on behalf of Nandi Engineering Limited, has alleged that Yogeeshwara neither transferred the land nor returned the money, despite repeated reminders.
Shivakumar said the police had not even filed an FIR against Yogeeshwara.
Motive questioned
“Is the government trying to shield Yogeeshwara. If there is no material in the case, let the police file a ‘B’ report. But why is an FIR not being registered,” Shivakumar asked.
Law Minister Suresh Kumar said the government would direct the police to take suitable action, based on the complaint.
Yogeeshwara dismissed the complaint as “politically motivated”.
He said the money released by the company had been distributed to landlords in Bidadi in 2005 and the onus was now on the company to complete the process of land purchase.