Probe into land-grabbing in Bengaluru sought

A delegation led by freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, S R Hiremath and A T Ramaswamy, under the Anti Land-Grabbing Action Committee, petitioned Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao to inquire into the land-grabbing cases in Bengaluru and surrounding areas.

The delegation submitted separate complaints of land grabbing by Puravankara, Khoday Group and illegalities by Shantinagar House Building Co-operative Society.
Shantinagar House Building Co-operative Society was allotted 66 acres and 22 guntas of land in Begur and Srinivagilu villages. The petition stated that while the original Society never created the layout for 15 years, a fake society was created with the same name and its benami members were allotted sites. Despite having many reports about the irregularities in the Society, the government had failed to take any action, Ramaswamy said.

The protesters said 180 acres of agricultural property in Chudanahalli in Bengaluru (North) was illegally acquired by the Khoday family. “The Revenue department has confirmed this land grabbing and the DC also had passed an order in this regard. The State government is yet to take action. Similarly, at Baiyappanahali, Binnamangala, Manvarthekaval Purvankara has grabbed four roads, each measuring 39,910 square metres,” Ramaswamy said.

Justice Rao received the memorandum from the agitators and assured them that action would be initiated. “The Lokayukta has briefed the agitators, who were sitting on a dharna at K R Circle, that inquiry will be held on the complaints. The Lokayukta has taken suo motu cognizance of all the complaints and initiated an enquiry,” Joint Commissioner (PR) Syed Riyaz said.