The investigation centres on alleged encroachment of 14.04 acres of government land in Kethaganahalli village, on the outskirts of Bidadi in Ramanagara district.
Published Feb 01, 2025 | 5:45 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 01, 2025 | 5:45 PM
Union Minister of Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy
The Karnataka government has established a five-member special investigation team (SIT) to investigate allegations of land-grabbing against former Chief Minister and Union Minister of Heavy Industries, HD Kumaraswamy.
Bengaluru Regional Commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas is leading the team probing the alleged encroachment of 14.04 acres of government land in Kethaganahalli village, on the outskirts of Bidadi in Ramanagara district.
The government issued the SIT formation order on 28 January, appointing Survey, Settlement & Land Records Joint Director Nisar Ahmed, Additional Bengaluru Regional Commissioner Islauddin Gaddyal, Tahsildar Ganapati Shastri, and Tahsildar Grade-2 Sheetal as member-secretary to the team.
The investigation centres on land parcels under survey numbers 8, 9, 10, 16 and 79 at Kethaganahalli. The SIT will verify document authenticity, with authority to pursue forensic testing if necessary. The team must also investigate potential land-related law violations and clear any confirmed encroachment of government land.
Anti-corruption activist SR Hiremath’s organisation, Samaja Parivarthana Samudaya, initially filed the complaint against Kumaraswamy and his relative, former MLA DC Thammanna.
The organisation escalated the matter to the high court in 2020, filing a contempt petition. They alleged the government’s failure to recover the encroached land as directed by the Lokayukta, despite giving an undertaking to the high court.
“The government had sought three months’ time to submit a report but the court wanted it earlier,” Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda had earlier said. “The government has decided to form a team of officers to investigate the case. A detailed report will be submitted before February 21.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
