The Lokayukta police on Tuesday registered an FIR against Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Mutt and 21 others in connection with a case of alleged land grab, forgery and criminal conspiracy.
Lokayukta Judge N K Sudhindra Rao directed the Lokayukta police to investigate into the matter and submit a report by July 7.The accused have been booked under sections 13(1) (d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and various IPC sections.
The complaint also named IAS officers Veerabhadraiah, Ramegowda and M K Aiyappa, KAS officer and Joint Commissioner of BBMP Shivabasavaiah as accused.
The Lokayukta Superintendent of Police said, “The names of BBMP Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda and BWSSB Chairman Gaurav Gupta have been dropped from the list of the original complaint.”
A private complaint was registered in the Lokayukta Court during the last week of May against the Swami and others alleging that he and a few others had forged entries made on temple properties of 16 acres and 10 guntas of land in Hulimavu village in their personal names.
Laxminarayan, former councillor of Huliumavu village and trustee and secretary of Sri Ramalingeshwara Swami Temple Trust (SRSTT), is the complainant. Laxminarayan alleged that documents were fabricated by the accused by stating that the SRSTT was entrusting properties with the Adichunchanagiri Samsthana Mutt.
The state government had granted 15 acres and 31 guntas to the SRSTT in 1985.
Balagangadharanatha Swamiji and others have been accused of manipulating the Kannada version of the grant order and translated it into English by inserting the word ‘education’ to obtain the land for education purpose.