'Duped' by realtor, defence staff petition home minister

Seek CID probe against Sri Durga Properties

A group of serving and retired defence personnel have met Home Minister G Parameshwara and sought a CID enquiry against real estate firm Sri Durga Properties in Northeast Bengaluru.

The members who were ‘duped’ by the firm's owner Srinivas Gowda complained to Parameshwara that they have lost hopes on the civil police who were not serving warrants and claiming that the accused is absconding.

Victims also include several high profile customers such as senior officials from DRDO, NHAI, NHRC, retired tahasildhars, senior officials from prominent universities and NRIs. “Despite four arrest warrants pending against him, Gowda was seen roaming scot-free near the DCP (Northeast) office at Berrys Lakeside (Twin Towers) in Saka­ran­agar where his residence is and, the police continue to claim he is absconding,” said Sunil Gaikwad, a retired Indian Air Force sergeant.

Baffled by the ‘lies’ of police, the defence personnel not only tweeted Gowda’s photograph tagging it to the senior police officers, but also laid a siege to his house in Sahakarnagar on Wednesday.

Around 60 to 70 vicitims gheraoed the house at the twin-towers, standing in front of the two gates from 5 am to 11 pm as he was expected to turn up there to celebrate Ugadi with his family. Gowda was even called out of his house and slapped by a few women protestors who had lost lakhs of their hard earned earnings to him. "The number of victims are said to be nearly 400 and the scam as of now is estimated to be of Rs 461 crore. We have submitted a detailed complaint to the home minister in this regard," added Gaikwad. The group that is fighting for the cause includes seven army personnel (all junior commissioned officers and jawans), four Air Force sergeants and one merchant navy personnel.

They managed to get two cases registered against him at Bagalur and Yelahanka police stations in April and June last year. “After that, a total of six FIRs have been registered against Gowda and four warrants have been pending against him for cheque bounce at the Yelahanka police station. The police tell us that he is absconding, but we know he is very much at his house. This is absolute violation of his bail conditions," said Gaikwad.

“There is a strong nexus between realtors, revenue officials from the level of gram panchayat to the DC's office and the police," said another victim, Vadiraju, a retired army personnel.