Lokayukta police clear Somanna, BSY in land denotification case

 The Lokayukta police on Monday submitted a ‘B’ report in a case against Housing Minister V Somanna and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, alleging he had illegally denotified the land, to benefit Somanna’s family.

Lokayukta Deputy Superintendent of Police D Palakshaiah submitted the ‘B’ report, effectively clearing all charges against the two and Somanna’s wife Shylaja and son Naveen B S, of obtaining land at Kengeri hobli acquired for the formation of Jnanabharathi Layout.

The case was referred to the Lokayukta police for investigation on July 11, 2012 by the Special Lokayukta Court. The matter has been posted to November 15.

According to sources in the Lokayukta, Naveen B S had purchased a site measuring 7,500 sq ft three months after the land was denotified. Since all the areas were surrounded by developed land, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) had said that there was no feasibility of forming a layout.

The authority, however, agreed to the layout after receiving a denotification application a fourth time. The source also mentioned that contrary to the complaint that buildings were already built on the said land, it was vacant.

Another case filed earlier by Ravi Krishna Reddy against Somanna and Yeddyurappa on similar charges also got a ‘B’ report from the Lokayukta police. Judge N K Sudhindra had rejected the report and had taken cognisance of the case.

The matter is presently being heard.The complainant, Yogendra H, an advocate, had alleged that BDA acquired land for the formation of Jnanabharathi Layout and issued the final notification in 1994. Also acquired among the properties was two acres in survey number 77 of Nagadevanahalli village, Kengeri hobli, in Bangalore South taluk.

The land belonged to Deve Gowda and when he died, his property was partitioned between his wife, Lingamma, and sons D Hanumaiah, D Lingaiah and D Ramaiah. Meanwhile, the BDA approved a compensation of Rs 5.42 lakh and approved it in July 1997.

In May 2010, Lingamma, projecting herself as the sole owner of survey number 77, applied for denotification of 30 guntas of land. Following this, Yeddyurappa immediately directed the authorities to place the concerned file before him.

The complaint states that within five days the Principal Secretary to the Urban Development Department (UDD) requested BDA commissioner to prepare a spot report on the present status of the land.

On a priority basis the land was inspected and the BDA officials stated that 30 guntas had already been handed over to the engineering section for the formation of a layout. The file notings of UDD also stated there was a legal impediment to denotification. Yet denotification was ordered on the basis that Lingamma was a widow with five children and said land was the only source of livelihood.

It is alleged that Yeddyurappa flouted all rules, regulations and precedents to benefit
Somanna, his wife and son.