BANGALORE: Shanthinagar MLA N A Haris has grabbed land in the Miller Tank area, according to a BBMP survey.
He is among 44 “illegal occupants” of the prime land near the Cantonment railway station, according to the municipal body’s Revenue Department.
Haris, a Congress MLA, is in possession of a site measuring 202.25 sq m, according to the survey, released to the media on Monday by Yediyur councillor N R Ramesh (BJP).
Private Occupants
In March 2014, the BBMP’s legal cell had recommended issue of notices to private occupants of Survey No 16, 18 and 19 in the Miller Tank area under the Karnataka Public Premises (KPP) Act.
The authorities had directed the revenue officer (Shivajinagar sub-division) and the Shivajinagar ward inspector to conduct a survey. “Our officials have to go in person to issue notices and we are seeking police protection. When they went to do the survey, they were threatened,” an official said.
When asked about Haris, the official said the BBMP had not issued any khata to him. “He has approached a court. The BBMP has also filed a writ petition,” he said.
On July 4, the BBMP registered a case with the High Grounds police against Farhanulla Khan and R N Ramaiah. The official said they were mainly responsible for forging documents and issuing khatas.
‘Property Mine’
When Express contacted Haris, he said that Ramesh had released the report for publicity. “There was no survey conducted. The BBMP should have issued notices prior to the survey,” Haris said. He claimed to be the original owner. “I have purchased the property. Let them go to court,” he said.
Ramesh had said of the total 1.6 lakh sq ft in the Miller Tank area, documents had been forged for 12,500 sq ft.
The land claimed by Haris, in the name of Nalapad Estates and Projects, was surveyed twice by the Land Measurement and Records Department in 2011, according to Ramesh. Ramesh said that he had filed cases with the BMTF and Lokayukta, and inquiries were on.