Minister's son in KIADB scam

The Lokayukta team, investigating a major racket involving Rs 106.89 crore in payment of compensation to lands acquired by the KIADB, has found evidence on the involvement of Katta's son and BBMP corporator Jagadish Naidu in the racket.

The investigation team had collected credible evidence showing that Jagadish Naidu had received Rs four crore compensation from the KIADB, highly placed sources in the Lokayukta told Deccan Herald.

A few days after Jagadish Naidu received Rs four crore, it came to light that the land belonged to the State government. The then deputy commissioner initiated measures and took the land into government's possession. Interestingly, efforts were not made to recover the compensation amount from Jagadish Naidu, the sources revealed.

One year ago, two criminal complaints were lodged with Bagalur police against Jagadish Naidu and a few others for allegedly claiming compensation for which they were not entitled.

Anjanappa, who had owned the land in survey number 40 at Bandikodigehalli in Jala hobli, had lodged complaint on April 17, 2009 with the Bagalur police, alleging that some people had cheated him in the process of disbursal of compensation amount. Managing director of a software company ,Srinivas, Jagadish Naidu and Gopi cheated him by receiving his compensation. They had also cheated eight others in a similar manner. They forcibly obtained signatures of land owners on the cheques and claimed the compensation, he had alleged in the complaint.

On March 25, 2009, Anjanappa had lodged a complaint with the DCP (North East) Division under the Prevention of Exploitation of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act-1988.
The Bagalur police submitted first information report to the court the same day. Srinivas is the accused number one, while Gopi number two and Jagadish Naidu is three in the FIR which mentions registering of cases against the accused under sections 406, 408, 418 and 420 of Indian Penal Code. It was not immediately known whether there was any follow-up on the issue.

Another complaint was filed against one Manohar Soni regarding cheating in disbursal of compensation given by the KIADB. Soni had given Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu's residential address and had allegedly received Rs 1.2-crore compensation. The Lokayukta team has decided to unearth why the investigation was stopped. It is said that the police gave up the investigation due to political intervention, disclosed the sources.

Jagadish's version:

When contacted, Jagadish Naidu said he had with him 1.16 acres of land for which the KIADB had paid him Rs 43 lakhs. "I don't know why the Lokayukta people have added an extra zero in the figure of Rs 43 lakhs to make it Rs 4 crores," said Jagadish. However, his father declined to comment on the matter.

3 KAS officers suspended

The State Government on Saturday suspended three KAS officers, allegedly involved in KIADB compensation scam, unearthed by the Karnataka Lokayukta sleuths.

The suspended are - KIADB special land acquisition officers G C Anil Kumar,  H S Ramakrishna and Chikkabettaiah.

KIADB special deputy commissioner M R Hiremath, who was also allegedly involved in the scam, has been transferred as the chief officer of the Collegiate Education Department.