BENGALURU: Ruling party leader in BBMP Council N R Ramesh on Tuesday alleged that the civic body’s officials have illegally sold Kempegowda Maharaja Complex on K G Road in the city with the help of a private builder.
Ramesh said the complex was constructed as a joint venture project with Maharaja Buildtech and Developers on BBMP Property Number 511 (earlier Lady Willingdon Chellaram Hospital) and was inaugurated in 2003.
A multistoreyed car parking lot was constructed on the site. “According to the joint venture agreement, of the total built up area, ownership rights was in 83:17 ratio. Thus, the BBMP retained 83 per cent ownership rights. The agreement also said that from the first and ground floors, only 3,103 sq metre belongs to the builder and the remaining belongs to the BBMP. The entire area on lower, second, third and fourth floors where parking is done belongs to the BBMP.”
Ramesh alleged that the then commissioner M R Sreenivasa Murthy had given General Power of Attorney in 2003 to Maharaja Buildtech to sell the shops though the BBMP had a major portion in the buidling. This was not even brought to the Council’s notice, he alleged.
He alleged that Murthy, along with a former MP from Congress and others are involved in selling the complex illegally. All the 62 shops in the complex have been sold illegally. The sale deed was by BBMP and Maharaja Build Tech in 2006, he alleged.
“Interestingly, all the documents related to this property were missing from Palike. The BBMP’s Estate Department did not give the details. I had to collect them from the sub-registrar offices. As khata has been done in the name of the buyers some nine years ago, we cannot cancel the khata. But we can fight legally,” he said.
Further, Ramesh said the BBMP had borrowed a loan of `20 crore from HUDCO to construct the complex and it is still repaying it.
Ramesh demanded a Lokayukta or CBI inquiry against Murthy and others. If not, he said he will file a case against present Commissioner.
‘I Don’t Remember’
When contacted, Murthy said this happened ‘some 11 years ago’. “I don’t remember and don’t have access to records. Commissioner has the executive powers to sign the documents related to Palike. If I have signed, there should be some supporting documents.”