Land scam: Strong prima facie case against R Ashoka, says ACB

Bengaluru, Jan 24: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Karnataka has said that allegations and evidences lead to “a strong prima facie case” against BJP leader and the former Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashoka in a corruption case against him on a complaint about alleged illegalities in the regularisation of unauthorised occupation of government land between 1998 and 2007.

In a statement, submitted to the Karnataka High Court on behalf of the ACB on Tuesday, it has been emphasised that the allegations levelled against Mr. Ashok are serious in nature, and require a full, fair and speedy investigation.

It has been found from the documents and the preliminary inquiry that the committee on regularisation of unauthorised occupation of government lands for Bangalore South taluk, of which Mr. Ashoka was chairman in his capacity as MLA for then Uttarahalli constituency, had allotted land to some persons without any applications for regularisation.

In some cases, land was allotted to those who already owned land.

Referring to the regularisation of four acres of land in favour of Karthik. B, who has also filed a petition questioning the registration of an FIR, the ACB has claimed that Mr. Karthik could have been only three years old when he started cultivation of the government land, which was allotted to him by the committee, as his present age has been mentioned as 34 years in the petition.

The ACB also claimed that no application filed by Mr. Karthik is found in the record.

The ACB also contended that land was allotted in violation of the rules and in some cases land within 18 km from Bengaluru were allotted though there is a bar on that.

Denying the allegation in Mr. Ashok’s petition that three members of the committee, who belong to the Congress, were not arraigned as accused in the FIR, the ACB said that case has been registered against the trio as well.

Justice Budihal R.B, who heard the arguments on behalf of Mr. Ashok and Mr. Karthik, has adjourned further hearing till Wednesday to hear arguments on behalf of the ACB.