Land encroachment by Kumaraswamy: Revenue Dept begins clearance drive in Ramanagara district

Bengaluru: The state Revenue Department on Tuesday initiated measures to clear the encroachment of 14 acres of land in Ramanagara district in Karnataka, allegedly by the family of Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, official sources said.

Kumaraswamy, who holds steel and heavy industries' portfolio, called the government action an act of "vendetta politics" and said he would fight it out legally.

The Union minister said he had purchased the parcel of land 40 years ago and more than 100 inquiries have taken place on it.

Following the High Court’s direction to reclaim government land from encroachment, the Revenue Department, in coordination with district authorities and the police department, deployed earthmovers.

Deputy commissioner of Ramanagara district Yashwanth Gurukar told reporters, "We are working here to reclaim the land based on the high court direction about encroachment in some survey numbers here (Kethaganahalli)."

During a hearing on Monday, the court took a strong view of the failure to implement its eviction order.

The matter has been posted for hearing on March 19, with directions to Revenue Department officials to submit a status report.

Meanwhile, R Devaraju, on behalf of Kumaraswamy, wrote to the district authorities on March 15, requesting them to recover the land if any encroachment was found and to identify his land that was 'lost' in the same village.

With PTI inputs