'Rai has illegally acquired property in wife's name'

Mangaluru: Former Congress leader Harikrishna Bantwal has accused District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai of illegally sanctioning land in the name of his wife.

Releasing documents at the Press Club on Saturday, he said that a 2.04-acre plot on Survey Number 20/2 and a 1-acre plot on Survey Number 38/2 – both at Mani in Bantwal taluk – were sanctioned under Akrama Sakrama by flouting all rules in the name of Rai's wife Shaila R Rai (Dhanabhagya R Rai).

Further, Bhat alleged that rubber has been illegally cultivated on 10 acres of the 30-acre government land on Survey number 97/1 at Kallige near Ramanath Rai's house. The minister should answer to these illegalities. An ACB probe into such illegalities from the minister. Even the deputy commissioner should probe into the issue, demanded the former Congress leader.

He also accused the officials of misusing power in connection with the regularisation of land by changing the name at Mani.

Rai should inform whether it was right on his part to get government land sanctioned with false declaration, said Bhat.

Stating that he was aware of the illegality in the past, Harikrishna Bantwal said to a query from reporters, "I kept quiet as I did not want to hurt Janardhana Poojary. Now, I have started getting threat letters through post after I said that Rai had insulted Janardhana Poojary. I will not keep quiet. All illegalities will be brought to the fore."