Eshwar Khandre writes to CM Siddaramaiah, seeks CID probe into forest land scam

Bengaluru: Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requesting a CID probe into the land scam in which an individual has been accused of forging documents to get an order from the high court favouring his claim for forest land with the minister now seeking action against additional advocate general.

DH on November 27, reported about the forest department staring at a loss of the reserved forest in BM Kaval worth about Rs 30,000 crore after one M B Nemane Gowda also known as MB Manmatha, got a favourable order from the court. The report also highlighted multiple cases filed by Gowda. The minister had then ordered a detailed inquiry into Gowda's claims, which revealed that he had claimed over 21000 acres in 18 cases

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In a letter to the chief minister, Khandre said the forest department was not provided a copy of the high court order till a day prior to the 90-day limit to file an appeal. "Additional Advocate General Yoganna did not inform the government or the department about the order. Instead, he opined that it was not a fit case for appeal, which would have benefited the petitioner (Gowda). This conduct raises suspicion," he said.

Khandre said some people have been forging documents to lay claim to reserved forest lands. "Manmatha alias Nemanna Gowda has previously tried to forged documents to grab government land. The then Chikkamagalur assistant commissioner had ordered officials to register a criminal case against him in September 2024," he said.

Further, the minister said that after the matter came to his notice On November 28, 2025, a complaint was filed before the Chikmagalur police. "The Mudigere circle inspector has not registered an FIR till now, raising further suspicion," he said.

The minister also sought action against the then assistant conservator of forest, Mudigere, for not registering a complaint since September 2025.