Lokayukta court orders probe against minister Chinchansur in DA case

The Lokayukta special court on Friday ordered an investigation against Textile Minister Baburao Chinchansur in a compliant of disproportionate assets (DA).

One Shantappa, a resident of Yadgir district, had filed the private complaint against the minister. The complainant alleged that the minister has procured assets during his tenure as the MLA beyond his declared source of income. The complaint stated that Chinchansur has registered more than 52 properties in the name of his nephew Ramesh and other family members to an extent of 150 acres.

These properties were purchased between 2002 to 2012 and all these property are mostly very close to the city surrounding and some of them are very close to the proposed airport at Kalaburagi, it stated. The complaint has also stated that there are four industries - Shakti Dal Mill and godown, Amar Wineries, Shakti Oil Industries, Sai Chemicals and Bio Fertilisers - registered in the name of Chinchansur's wife Amareshwari.

In 2012, Shantappa had filed the complaint before the Lokayukta court against Chinchansur. The Lokayukta police had registered the FIR following the directions from the Lokayukta special court. Chinchansur had challenged the FIR quoting prior sanction clause and the High Court had directed the Lokayukta special court to consider the application afresh. The advocate appearing for the complainant Byatha N Jagadeesha contended that the allegations made were only with regard to the misappropriation of assets during Chinchansur's office in the last elections. Hence, no prior sanction was required. 

In January 2013, Lokayukta police had searched the premises belonging to Chinchansur and seized some incriminating documents. They had found that Chinchansur had bought an apartment in the upmarket Ebony Godrej apartments in Hebbal for Rs 50 lakh. The police had also seized two ‘gold plated’ chairs from his residence valued at around Rs 67,500.

Chinchansur had won Assembly elections from 1989 to 2004. From 1999 to 2004, he served as a minister of small savings, insurance and muzrai in Karnataka. The complaint has not included his assets and liabilities after his term as MLA in 2008.