Mangaluru, Nov 13, 2017: DK District Minister B Ramanatha Rai has denied the land related allegations hurled against him by former Congressman Harikrishna Bantwal, and dubbed the same as politically motivated.
Addressing press persons here on November 13, Monday Rai has issued a clarification regarding the allegation of Harikrishna that he had illegally got sanctioned land in the name of his wife and that he also had a rubber plantation in a government land at Kallige.
The Minister said he owned 15.22 acre land in Kallige and that the same was purchased by his father in 1961.
"My father had purchased hundreds of acres of land. Most of this land was handed over to tenants during implementation of the Land Reforms Act. The remaining land was divided among five children, The property of some family members have been purchased by me through purchase deed. All this accounts to 15.22 acres," said Rai.
" We have eight acre rubber plantation in the Varga land owned by me. I have all the records. Had I approached the court regarding the Perne and Kallige land, hurdreds of acres would have been mine. But I have no such desire. Nor do I have any site or house in Mangaluru or Bengaluru," said Rai.
Regarding allegations of land owned by his wife Shaila alias Dhanalakshmi Rai, the Minister said his wife jointly owned 7.89 acre land along with her family members land at Maani and 3.04 acre Kumki land has been sanctioned to her adjacent to the family land. Though one of her brothers has moved the AC court against this, the verdict is not out, Rai informed.
Throughout the press meet Rai did not refer to Harikrishna Bantwal’s name and gave clarification with documents. He also said the idea of filing defamation case has also come to his mind but he has not yet decided on it.
Advocate Chidananda Poojary was also present.