HC directs probe over land gift claim

The High Court on Monday directed the Corps of Detectives (now known as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to establish the authenticity regarding the claim of land allocation by the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore, to the petitioners.

Hearing a petition by Doddakere Tank Bund Site Owners’ Welfare & Development Association, Mysore, Justice H V G Ramesh directed the government counsel Nagashri to write to CID to establish the authenticity of power of attorney given by the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore in 1972-1973 to the petitioner. “The government pleader is directed to write a letter to CID regarding authenticity of the alleged power of attorney, executed by the then Maharaja of Mysore. The manner in which the Power of Attorney is drafted creates suspicion whether the Maharaja has actually gifted the land,” the court observed.

The court has directed the CID to secure information regarding the authenticity of the power of attorney executed and submit a report by August 5, 2013. The Association had moved the High Court stating that the land was gifted by the then Maharaja. However, the matter reached the court after a boundary dispute of the said land cropped up. The State government later in its submission said that the land cannot be gifted as it is lake area and is part of the Doddakere. The State, in its letter dated February 25, 2009, submitted that there are no records available for the lands allocated. But, the petitioner disputed the submission and said the land was a gift from the Maharaja.