Land scam complaint against Karnataka minister

Bangalore : A private complaint was filed Saturday against Karnataka Urban Development and Law Minister S. Suresh Kumar alleging that he recommended freeing of 4.2-acre state-owned land from government control to the brother of a lawmaker.

“We have received a complaint from a social activist (Dinesh K.) against the minister (S. Kumar) for recommending in 2009 de-notification of the government land meant for a housing project to slum-dwellers,” Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Mallikarjuna Swamy told IANS here.

According to the complainant, the prime land at Laggere in north of Bangalore, worth crores of rupees, was earlier acquired by the government from K. Gopinath, brother of K. Narahari, a member of the state legislative council (MLC) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“Under pressure from Narahari, Kumar had recommended to the state government to return the land to Gopinath as the value of the property had multiplied manifold since it was acquired by the government for the housing project,” the complaint alleged.

As the land comes under the jurisdiction of the civic body Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which reports to the urban development minister, the complainant alleged that Kumar had violated the rules by recommending to then chief minister (B.S. Yeddyurappa) to return the land to Gopinath.

Kumar, however, declined to comment as he was on official tour and not aware of the complaint.

“As the complaint was filed with the SP in the closing hours of office late evening, I did not get it to go through it. I will look into the complaint Monday and order an inquiry if there is merit in it,” said BMTF chairman R.P. Sharma.