Lokayutka police to seek sanction to prosecute Nirani

The Lokayukta police will soon seek sanction to prosecute Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani and other three top officials in the case pertaining to the manipulation of documents to deprive a company of the project it was allotted.

The Lokayukta police submitted the final investigation report to the Special Lokayukta Court on Friday.

Inspector Anjan Kumar informed that court that some of the charges against the accused have been established. Accordingly, sanction for prosecuting Nirani and three government officials — former Principal Secretary of Commerce and Industries V P Baligar, former Managing Director of Karnataka Udyog Mitra Shivaswamy and Deputy Director of Karnataka Udyog Mitra Gangadharaiah — would be sought soon.

The matter has been adjourned to March 14. Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa is also one of the accused in the case.

The complainant, A Alam Pasha, Managing Director of Pash Space International stated the government had approved his proposal for a Rs 600-crore project which envisaged the construction of value homes for the middle and lower income group and it had also directed the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to allot 26 acres of land in Devanahalli Industrial area in July 2010.

The committee, which approved the proposal consisted of Yeddyurappa, Nirani, V P Baligar and other senior officials. Following the approval order, the complainant had entered into an understanding with funding agencies, architects and buyers.

However, the company received a government order on March 11, 2011, stating they were withdrawing the original order giving them the project and intended to divert the project to another company.

Pasha has alleged that the accused persons had concocted and forged a letter in the name of his company, by copying the letterhead of the company along with his seal and signature. The letter claimed that the company was not interested in pursuing the project or the land allotted. Though a complaint had been lodged with the Lokayukta, no action has been taken, the complainant has claimed.

He added that he had never tendered any letter to the KIADB or the State High Level Clearance Committee requesting cancellation of land allotted to the company nor authorised anybody to do so.

“All the accused persons are not only interested in connivance but also knowingly caused losses to the government, by allowing the objective of Global Investors Meet to fail,” the complainant stated.