Land denotification case: Yediyurappa records statement before Lokayukta police

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday appeared before the Lokayukta police in connection with a case related to the denotification of a land in Bengaluru.

Yediyurappa arrived at the Lokayukta office at the MS Building around 1 pm and left around 2 pm after his statement was recorded, well-placed Lokayukta sources confirmed to DH. Yediyurappa was earlier issued summons, and he appeared before the investigating officer from the Lokayukta police wing.

The case is related to 1.11 acres of land at Gangenahalli, Kasaba hobli in northern Bengaluru that was acquired by the BDA for a layout in 1976 and the acquisition process was completed in 1977.

In a press conference on Thursday, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said that in 2007, when HD Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister, a benaami named Rajashekharaiah filed a petition seeking the denotification of the abovesaid land, acquired 30 years ago.

“This Rajashekharaiah has nothing to do with this land. We still don’t know who it is,” Gowda said.

According to the minister, Kumaraswamy had asked officials to move a file on the matter. “Meanwhile, the original owner of this land had 21 heirs who gave a general power of attorney to Kumaraswamy’s mother-in-law,” he said.

In July 2010, according to the minister, the land was registered in the name of Channappa, the brother-in-law of Kumaraswamy. Yediyurappa is accused of finalising the notification in 2010, when he became the Chief Minister, before its registration.

“Call it coincidence or a pre-planned illegality,” Gowda said. “The land costs several crores. It is an asset that belonged to BDA. It should have been used for the poor. Is this right or wrong? Is this legal or illegal? Isn't this systematic fraud?” he asked.

Another Lokayukta source said that as of now, only Yediyurappa was summoned and no notices were issued to Kumaraswamy.