'B'lore Club does not have documents on land ownership'

BJP corporator Padmanabha Reddy from Kacharakanahalli on Thursday alleged that Bangalore Club does not have any documents to prove the ownership of the land where the club is located.

Briefing reporters, he said the MLAs’ committee members of Karnataka Legislative Assembly visited Bangalore Club to study its functioning and official records in January 2013. Later in March, they came out with a report.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban District had requested the club committee members to provide registration/ land ownership and other details, but no relevant documents were provided.

Later, the revenue inspector contacted the club several times but the club authorities did not respond. Reddy said, “Even the tahsildar visited the club. Not only documents were denied, he was even insulted by the club staff, although he was a government servant.”
He said it was a matter of grave concern that the club – spread over 13 acres is located at a place where the prevailing market value is about Rs 1 lakh per sq ft – does not have proper ownership documents.

“The total value of the club land is worth Rs 5,662.8 crore, but there are no documents to prove the ownership,” Reddy said.

The Assembly committee, he said, had expressed its displeasure and opined that a club transacting crores of rupees of business and claiming to be the most prestigious club in the City does not have its financial records and other correct ownership records in its possession.

Further, the committee opined that the club was violating government rules and regulations, which they perceived as a matter of serious concern, he said.
The committee had also observed that the club was not conducting any social services and pays a total tax of Rs 20 lakh per annum.

He alleged that the buildings constructed inside the club do not have valid permissions from the BBMP.

He went on to state that there were many shops operating inside the club, without trade licences.

When contacted by Deccan Herald, club secretary Col (Retd) H P M Soans said president P V Jayashankar would answer these allegations better. Repeated attempts to reach the president went in vain.