BENGALURU: An anti-graft activist has filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) against the owner of Garuda Mall Uday Garudachar, and four BBMP officials, for allegedly mortgaging the mall’s land for a bank loan. Garudachar denied the charges, claiming that he had mortgaged only his share of the land, and said the complaint was a conspiracy by those who did not want him to contest the upcoming elections.
The complaint, filed by one Srinivas on Thursday, states that the BBMP had leased the land on Magrath Road, Ashok Nagar to Garudachar for 30 years, and the latter then mortgaged the land for `100 crore loan from a bank. BBMP Commissioner and Joint Commissioner (East) are among the officials named in the complaint.
Responding to the allegation, Garudachar said he owned 58.75 per cent of the land, and he had mortgaged only that part of it. “In our political party, some people are known as hit-and-run leaders. In their lifetime, none of their complaints have been charge-sheeted, and I have learnt from reliable sources that such people are behind this,” he said. He added that he was likely to contest elections from the Chickpet Assembly constituency on a BJP ticket, and other aspirants for the seat were trying to scuttle his move. “Which bank today, in the days of Choksis and Modis, will give me money?” he asked.