An elected representative, son of a highly influential minister in the State Cabinet and an Information Technology company with close links with the some influential politicians in the State, are allegedly involved in the racket, according to sources.
The minister was also a holding a portfolio in JDS-BJP coalition government. The KIADB officials carried out some work as per the directions given by the IT company, highly placed sources revealed to Deccan Herald.
The investigating team, led by Lokayukta Superintendent of Police P K Madhukar Shetty, recorded the statement given by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board chief executive officer T Shyam Bhat.
KIADB retired land acquisition officer Muninarayanappa appeared before the investigation team on Thursday and provided some information.
‘Admitted to lapses’
He is said to have admitted to his lapses and revealed he acted as per a private company’s instructions. The team has given a week’s time four KAS officers - Bangalore East taluk Special Deputy Commissioner Anil Kumar, Assistant Commissioner K B Chikkabettaiah (currently on deputation to the Gas Authority of India Limited), Special Land Acquisition Officers N R Nagaraju, H S Ramakrishna and Muninarayanappa to give confession statements, said the sources.
The minister’s son is said to be a direct beneficiary in the racket. His name figures in the list of those who received the compensation. He is involved in causing Rs four crore loss to the State exchequer.
A person close to the minister is also involved, and he has caused a loss of Rs 1.24 crore to the State. He provided the minister’s residential address for receiving the compensation.
Several people lost their lands when the government acquired their lands for the projects. A few persons allegedly cheated these land owners when the land acquisition process was on. The land owners have come forward to provide vital information to the investigating team, stated the sources.
