MYSURU: The Mysuru District Second Additional and Session Court on Monday ordered registering First Information Report (FIR) against former Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) chief Siddaramaiah, in a 25-year-old case. He was accused of influencing authorities against acquiring certain private lands, a part of which he purchased later.
Siddaramaiah, who was then the Dy CM, had also allegedly encroached on 16-ft land to construct a house in Vijayanagar Second Stage, violating the Urban Town Plan. A private complaint was filed by advocate Gangaraju, who had also accused Siddaramaiah of helping close associates get sites from Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
MUDA officials said that they had not acquired one portion of the land parcel because it had been converted for non-agricultural use by its owners. Sources close to Siddaramaiah said that he had purchased the plot from a private individual,and there was no encroachment.
In 1997, MUDA acquired land in Vijayanagar for developing sites, but left out 30 guntas that belonged to three different individuals. From one of them, Siddaramaiah purchased a site, constructed a house in 1998 and sold it after two years.
The complaint questioned why this 30 gunta land was left out from acquisition when the entire layout was acquired. The complaint also accused Siddaramaiah of encroaching on 16-ft land as he built a house in 120X80 ft site instead of 104X80 ft that he had purchased and had an approved plan for.Advocate Gangaraju said that he had approached Governor Vajubhai Vala to lodge a complaint of land grab against Siddaramaiah, when he was the CM. However, the Governor sought legal opinion and stated that it does not require his nod as the complainant can file a private complaint.
The Mysuru court that heard the complaint passed orders to file an FIR against Siddaramaiah and others including C Basavae Gowda and D Druva Kumar, who served as MUDA chairman in two different periods and its present Commissioner Kantharaju.
Gangaraju further charged that MUDA Chairman D Druvakumar, Commissioner Kantharaju and the Town Planning officers did not act on the complaint lodged by him. The complainant charged that the MUDA in October,6, 1997 had passed a resolution to leave the land out from acquisition. Meanwhile, land owners developed sites in 22,000 square ft and sold it through a registered sale deed. The complaint alleged that all this was done with Siddaramaiah’s influence.
Gangaraju charged that the former MUDA Chairman has also allotted 40x60 site to the son of one of the original owners, Annaiah, as compensation for losing land after 37 years though the 30 guntas was not acquired by MUDA. The land scam came to light when one of the allottees could not find the site allotted by MUDA.
‘No encroachment’
Sources close to Siddaramaiah said that he had sold the house in 2000 after he lost elections. He said that the notices must have gone to the purchaser and not to Siddaramaiah. Sources told Siddaramaiah had purchased 10 guntas of converted land from land owner Sunandamma and built the house and there is no scope for encroachment.
No irregularities: MUDA
MUDA Commissioner Kantharaju said 30 guntas land belonging to Sakamma, Sunandamma and Annaiah was not acquired in 1997 as it was converted for non-agriculture purposes. However, the MUDA had erroneously developed 60x40 sites in 10 guntas belonging to Krishna, son of Annaiah. Though, Krishna has approached MUDA for an alternative site in compensation, the civic agency had not done it. Kantharaju said the MUDA is ready to furnish all details and documents during inquiry.