Mysuru: The state Lokayukta transferred the land scam case involving Janata Dal (Secular) MLA from Chamundeshwari assembly constituency G T Devegowda and 46 others to the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate further. Accordingly, ACB has reopened the case and filed the First Investigation Report (FIR) to unearth alleged irregularities committed by GTD and others during 2008-09.
Political analysts feel that the chief minister has reopened the case to clip the wings of a prominent JDS leader and his likely opponent in the forthcoming assembly elections from Chamundeshwari assembly constituency.
It may be noted,there were major allegations against G T Devegowda, when he was the chairman of Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) between 2008-13. Accusations of major scam surfaced after the KHB acquired 81 acres land in three villages of Yelwal hobli by paying Rs 36.50 Lakh per acre, while paying a meagre Rs 8-10 Lakh per acre in villages of Gungral Chatra, Kallur Naganahalli and Yelachenahalli villages for developing KHB colonies. It is alleged, GTD and many others by conniving with middelemn and officials pocketed the rest of the money running into crores. Farmers named Ravi and Basavaraju had then approached the state Lokayukta seeking justice against irregularities comitted in the land deals.
The state Lokayukta had investigated the case and transferred the findings to the government in 2015. Subsequently the government asked the ACB to revive the case following which FIRs have been registered against GTD, his son G D Harish and 44 others involved in the alleged scam.
Rumours are abuzz about the timing of the revival of an old case and CM’s detractors’ sense malafide intentions as elections are fast approaching. G T Devegowda in his tirade had severely criticised the incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during a massive JDS convention “Kumara Parva” in the city on December 7. On the same day, Lokayukta transferred the case to ACB, it is gathered.
Reacting on the reopening of the case by ACB , H T Devegowda said fearing loss in the assembly elections CM Siddaramaiah had resorted to vendetta politics. The case will be fought legally and state government can handover the same to CBI, if required, he challenged.
“When I headed KHB, my son was doing MS in United Kingdom and it is improper to drag him into the case,” he stated.
The ACB has taken over the case from the Lokayukta as per prescribed norms and there are no malafide intentions, C M Siddramaiah said reacting on the issue at Bagalkot.
ACB begins investigation
Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) team headed by SP(ACB) Dr. H T Shekar held a meeting at the ACB office in the city and served notices to 47 people involved in the alleged scam. They include farmers, middlemen and officials and all have been asked to attend investigation proceedings.
