DCP (Law and order) Basavaraj Y Malagaththi on Thursday said he would speed up the process related to confiscating the disputed properties of taxidermist Joubert Van Ingen in Mysore and Kerala. Van Ingen died at the age of 101 on March 12.

Malagaththi who returned as DCP after his transfer ahead of the recently concluded Assembly elections, had taken steps to prepare a detailed report of the assets left behind by Van Ingen estimated worth about several crores of rupees, including Bisil Manti bungalow with outhouse at Nazarbad and over 200 acres of coffee estate at Kerala, besides stuffed animals, ivories and various other prized antiques in his possession.

It had triggered controversy with Michael Floyd Eshwar claiming to be adopted son of Ingen allegedly usurping the property.

A day before of his death on March 11, Ingen through one of his aide’s had written to the police commissioner about Eshwar’s bid to acquire his property through dubious methods. Acting on the same, Nazarbad police had booked a case against Eshwar under multiple charges including cheating and forgery.

Malagaththi said that security at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s house at T K Layout in the city would also be beefed up. Sources told Deccan Herald that Door Framed Metal Detector (DFMD) had been installed, while four dedicated police personnel attached to Saraswatipuram police station, and a platoon of reserved police force had been stationed near the house.

Eshwar gets anticipatory bail

Michael Floyd Eshwar who was on the run for nearly a month after the issue surfaced, eventually succeeded in obtaining anticipatory bail from High Court of Karnataka. When his attempt to secure bail at a city (Mysore) court failed, he approached the apex court.