K’taka revenue min accused of land grab | Bengaluru News

Belagavi: Opposition BJP Wednesday accused Karnataka revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda of land grab, alleging that ownership of around 21 acres in Kolar district — recorded in official documents as a lake and a burial ground — were transferred to his name illegally. The opposition demanded an inquiry and his resignation, even as the minister dismissed the charges as “politically motivated” and said he was open to a Lokayukta probe. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, said the issue pertains to one acre of land in survey No. 47 and 20.1 acres in survey No. 46 at Garudapalya village in Narasapura hobli. He claimed both parcels are now in the minister’s name and bear a combined value exceeding Rs 100 crore.Narayanaswamy alleged “the one-acre in survey No. 47 is a land marked as a burial ground, which cannot be transferred to anyone. It was illegally done in mutation documents by Krishna Byre Gowda”. Rejecting the allegations, Gowda claimed the land parcels in question were part of ancestral property inherited from his grandfather. Asked whether these were originally marked as lake and burial ground, he said: “Please check it yourself.”Narayanaswamy, though, insisted that records were cooked to facilitate the illegal transfer. “The 20.1 acres, which comprise a lake, according to records, has been transferred to his name. Changes were made to the records by adding the word ‘kharab’ (land classified as unfit for cultivation).” Seeking action, Narayanaswamy said: “As these 21.1 acres are now in the minister’s name, an inquiry must be conducted. The land must be taken back (by the govt), and he [Gowda], projected as ‘Mr Clean’, should resign.” He further said chief minister Siddaramaiah should address the issue in the legislature. Meanwhile, BJP workers staged a protest in Byatarayanapura assembly constituency in Bengaluru, represented by Gowda, demanding his resignation. Claiming that these are all trumped-up charges, Gowda said: “Making allegations just for the sake of it seems to be their (BJP) culture. The Garudapalya land is an ancestral land from my grandfather’s time. It has come to me as part of partition of ancestral property.” He said the opposition should file a complaint if it suspects any irregularity. “If the opposition feels that I may influence the inquiry, let them go to the Lokayukta. If they don’t have faith in Lokayukta, let them go to court. I’m prepared for everything.”