The Karnataka government has confiscated 131 acres of prime commercial land near Bangalore, owned by the wives of two senior IAS officers. Nine officials have been suspended for their lapses in the case.
The land was brought for a low price by the wives of two senior IAS officers, Maheshan and Parthasarathy. The latter was secretary to Deve Gowda when he was the Chief Minister. The duo duped the state exchequer to the tune of Rs 1.17 crore in stamp duty and registration fee while violating the Land Reforms Act and other relevant land laws, announced revenue minister Ramesh Jigajinagi.
We decided to act against the erring owners and officials following a detailed report submitted by the chief secretary on the issue, he told reporters. The agricultural land, owned by one Rishi Gopal Das and Jagtiani, was later converted into two farm houses and sold to the officialss wives at an artificially low price.
Suspended officials include two senior KAS officers, two senior officials of the stamps and registration department. An assistant commissioner, Jayadevaswamy, who had played an active role in the scandal has since died the minister said.
The land scandal involving influential IAS officers was exposed by the media and the issue had rocked the state legislature some time back. The 131 acres of prime land, adjacent to the famed hill station of Nandi Hills, forty kilometers off Bangalore, is considered best suited for resorts and Golf courses. The Oberoi group is implementing an international standard 18 hole Golf course near Nandi Hills and the proposed Devanahalli airport is close by.
We have since served notices on the two owners to recover Rs 1.17 crore stamp and registration fee evaded by them, the revenue minister said.
When it was brought to his notice that Mrs Maheshan had contested on a BJP ticket in the last Assembly polls and Mrs Parthasarathy is close to the family of Prime Minister Deve Gowda, the minister said it does not matter. We will take action against anyone who violates law of the land, however highly placed or influential he or she may be.
