Lokayukta Raid Exposes Major Land Scam in Mandya, 11 Revenue Staff Booked
In a significant anti-corruption operation, authorities have booked eleven staff members from the revenue department in Nagamangala taluk of Mandya district. The action follows a comprehensive Lokayukta raid that revealed serious irregularities in the allocation of government land under the Bagair Hukum scheme.
Scam Involves Hundreds of Acres and Crores in Losses
The fraudulent activities involved hundreds of acres of land, causing financial losses estimated to run into crores of rupees for the state exchequer. Police registered a First Information Report at the Nagamangala Town police station, accusing the staff of multiple offenses.
The accused face charges of tampering with official records, forging crucial documents, and abusing their official positions to facilitate illegal land allotments. Their actions enabled fraudulent approvals that diverted valuable government resources.
Public Complaints Trigger Investigation
The case surfaced after numerous public complaints highlighted misuse of power and illegal allotment of government land. The affected area spans over 320 acres across several villages including HN Kavalu, Chikkajataka, Doddajataka, and Karadahalli.
Investigators discovered that the accused officials forged cultivation certificates, manipulated land distribution registers, and tampered with official memorandums. They also altered original revenue office files dating back to 1978-79 to support their fraudulent activities.
Suo Motu Case and Extensive Raids
Taking serious note of the allegations, Upalokayukta B Veerappa registered a suo motu case on January 12. This prompted immediate action from Lokayukta authorities.
A specialized police team led by Superintendent of Police Suresh Babu conducted extensive raids across multiple locations. The operation targeted the Nagamangala taluk office, residences of the accused officials, government quarters, local photocopying centers, and several hotels.
During these raids, authorities seized numerous incriminating documents that provided concrete evidence of the scam. Following the successful operation, the Mandya district Lokayukta police inspector filed a formal complaint, leading to the FIR against all eleven accused individuals.
Official Statement on the Investigation
SP Suresh Babu explained that the scam initially came to light during a public grievances meeting. "Further investigation revealed multiple instances of criminal misconduct and abuse of official position," he stated.
"More than 320 acres of government land were manipulated through these illegal activities, causing losses amounting to crores of rupees. Our examination shows that records dating back to 1978-79 were systematically tampered with, and numerous documents were forged to facilitate the fraud," Babu added.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the full extent of the scam and identify any additional individuals who might be involved in the illegal land allotments.
