MLC granted bail in encroachment case

The Special Lokayukta Court on Monday granted bail to JD(S) MLC E Krishnappa and two others in a case pertaining to encroachment of land for the formation of a layout in Bangalore North taluk.

The Lokayukta police had filed a charge sheet against Krishnappa and five others stating that they were responsible for fabricating documents and encroaching land for the formation of a residential layout in Gowdarahalli, Bangalore North taluk.

The court had taken cognisance of the charge sheet. The MLC, along with A C Muniraju and Premanatha Reddy, were granted bail after they appeared in the court and moved bail applications.

All the three have been directed to furnish a personal bond for Rs five lakh each, along with two sureties. A warrant has been issued for retired second division assistant, Ramachandra Murthy, who did not appear in court on Monday.

According to the charge sheet, Krishnappa along with others grabbed land in survey numbers 58 and 59 of Gowdarahalli village and abused his office of a public servant.

Krishnappa was the president of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee of Bangalore North during this time. He is accused of colluding with Muniraju and Ramachandra Murthy and applying for conversion of land measuring four acres, by tagging the application with that of Premanatha Reddy who had sought for conversion of two acres of land. This land was actually gomala land and was shown as belonging to them by fabricating documents of ownership.

Muniraju is accused of securing conversion of land in collusion with officers and on the basis of fabricated documents while Krishnappa is charged with forming a layout called E K Enclave in the said land together with 1.5 acres of gomala land.

About 40 sites were formed in four acres and 30 guntas and some were even sold. The layout was formed in 54 acres and 23 guntas and the Lokayukta police found encroachment of two acres and 30 guntas of land. Sanction has been sought for prosecuting Tahsildar Beeralingegowda and surveyor Srikanta.