Complaint against Karnataka minister Aravind Limbavali for favouring DLF

Bangalore, Oct 22 (IANS) A private complaint was filed Monday against Karnataka Health Minister Aravind Limbavali and 10 others in the Lokayukta (ombudsman) trial court here for allegedly favouring real estate firm DLF Ltd. in a housing project on the city’s outskirts.

Admitting the complaint of N. Nagaraj, who claimed to be an aggrieved party, Lokayukta Judge N.K. Sudhindra Rao has posted the case for hearing Nov 3.

“Limbavali favoured DLF in October 2009 for pecuniary gain by recommending to the civic body BBMP (Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike) to widen a narrow road leading to its housing project at Begur on the outskirts of south Bangalore in violation of the city’s revised Master Plan (RMP 2015) and other governing rules,” Nagaraj alleged in his complaint.

Limbavali, who was then higher education minister in the first BJP government, represents the Mahadevapura assembly constituency in east Bangalore.

Among other respondents is former BBMP commissioner Bharat Lal Meena.

The New Delhi-based DLF is building a residential township christened ‘Westend Heights’ near Begur, which will have about 1,000 houses in 25 blocks and other amenities, including landscape garden, swimming pool, play area, health facilities, 24×7 power back-up, a community hall and sports facilities.

The multi-crore housing project, which is at an advanced stage of construction, is expected to be completed by this year-end.

The complainant, who owns a land adjacent to the DLF project site, alleged that on Limbavali’s recommendation, the BBMP had “unauthorisedly” permitted the real estate builder to widen the linking road to 24 metres from 18 metres, resulting in the encroachment of his land.

DLF has been embroiled in a major controversy over its land dealings with Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, as alleged by India Against Corruption (IAC) recently.