More Yeddyurappa land scams surface

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, December 9:  The season of scams, it seems, is not yet over, at least for Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his family.

The Janata Dal (Secular) on Wednesday made fresh and serious allegations of illegal purchase of over 295 acres of agricultural land by the chief minister and his kin.

Yeddyurappa and members of his family together bought 295.13 acres of land in various parts of Shimoga and Mysore districts, the JD(S) said.

All pieces of land were bought within a span of four years — ever since Yeddyurappa became the deputy chief minister in 2006. The total value of assets, including for agricultural, residential and commercial purposes ,  acquired by Yeddyurappa and his kin during this period is estimated to be Rs 152.32 crore, the JD(S), which released a set of documents to the media in this regard, alleged.

The chief minister himself allegedly bought 9.12 acres at Shiralakoppa in his Shikaripura assembly constituency, Shimoga. He bought the land for Rs 16.96 lakh on January 22, 2007, the JD(S) alleged.

However, except for some   land purchased by Yeddyurappa’s sons and sons-in-law and his family-promoted Davalagiri Property Developers and Prerana Educational and Social Trust, the JD(S) has not provided any documentary evidence to prove its charges. 

According to Section 79(a)and 79(b)of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, people whose annual income from non-agricultural sources is above Rs 2 lakh are barred from purchasing farm land.

Among Yeddyurappa’s kin who allegedly illegally bought agricultural land are: B Y Raghavendra and B Y Vijeyendra (sons); R N Sohan Kumar and B S Uday Kumar (sons-in-law); B K Somashekar (nephew); B K Radhamani (niece); Lakshamamma (sister-in-law) and Umadevi (daughter), the JD(S) alleged.

Raghavendra, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Shimoga, purchased 12.17 acres at Harakere in Shimoga by paying Rs 33 lakh in 2006. Vijeyendra, Sohan Kumar and Uday Kumar bought 1.30 acres, 41 acres and 9.39 acres at Guddadarakere, Shimoga, respectively for Rs 54 lakh in 2007. Besides, Vijeyendra allegedly bought an acre of land at Belavatha village in Mysore.

Many other relatives of the chief minister have also bought several acres of farm land at Badravathi, the JD(S)alleged.

Prepara Education Trust, Shimoga, acquired 39.36 acres at Guddadarakere in Shimoga in violation of Section 109(i)(ii) of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act. Educational institutions recognised by either the State or the Centre should not acquire more than two units of land (5.4 acres constitute one unit), as per the rules. The trust, therefore, was entitled to have a maximum of 10.32 acres, documents stated.

The JD(S) also alleged that the Yeddyurappa family bought 143 acres of agricultural land at Badravati in the name of Davalagiri Property Developers.

‘Delay in justice benefits guilty’

The slow pace of judicial process is helping the guilty get away, said Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde at a workshop on ’Crusade against Corruption’ in Bangalore on Wednesday.

The Lokayukta said regardless of the social status of a person accused of corruption, there should be a system to ensure quick punishment.

Citing a case of corruption that came before the Supreme Court 18 years after the commission of the offence, he said: “The person facing the charges is now 80-year old. If convicted, how can he serve a sentence?”

On Lokyukta police, Hegde said about 25 cases of corruption have been registered in the present government, but nearly 85 per cent hesitated to conduct inquiry due to the fear of transfer. He said: “Laws should be amended to ensure the guilty do not take advantage of slow moving investigations and continue to indulge in further acts of corruption.”

Retired Justice M N Venkatachalaiah called for changes in the way to tackle corruption, as the laws formulated were archaic and needed to keep pace with newer forms of corruption emerging these days.

DHNS