In a dramatic turn of events that exposes deep-rooted corruption in Bengaluru's revenue department, land records that were officially declared 'missing' miraculously surfaced during a Lokayukta raid on Friday. The incident has revealed alleged foul play in a land transfer case near Kengeri, sending shockwaves through the city's administrative circles.
The Land Ownership Battle
The controversy centers around landowner R Rekha, who had purchased 2.2 acres of land near Kengeri in 2014. Following the purchase, she approached the revenue department to complete the formal transfer of the property into her name, a routine procedure that should have been straightforward.
However, according to an official Lokayukta press note, revenue department officials allegedly demanded a bribe from Rekha to process her application. When she refused to pay the illegal amount, the officials provided her with a written acknowledgement stating that the original land documents were missing and unavailable in their records.
The Lokayukta Intervention
Frustrated by the corrupt practices and determined to claim her legitimate rights, Rekha approached the Lokayukta and filed a formal complaint. Taking serious note of the allegations, Lokayukta BS Patil issued a search warrant authorizing raids on the offices of the special tahsildar and assistant commissioner in Bengaluru's south division.
The raid, conducted on Friday, yielded shocking results that confirmed Rekha's claims. Contrary to the revenue department's official stance, the land documents connected to her property were found within the special tahsildar's office itself, exposing the deliberate misinformation provided to the citizen.
Ongoing Investigation and Implications
The Lokayukta has confirmed that investigations are continuing, with strong indications that more irregularities may surface as the probe deepens. "During the raids, land documents connected to Rekha were found at the special tahsildar office. We are continuing the investigations, and there are chances of discovering more irregularities," the official press note stated.
This case has highlighted several critical issues in Bengaluru's property registration system:
- Corruption among revenue department officials
- Deliberate suppression of land records
- Harassment of genuine property owners
- Systemic flaws in document management
The incident has raised serious questions about the integrity of land record maintenance in Bengaluru South and has exposed how citizens are being exploited through such corrupt practices. As the Lokayukta investigation progresses, more details about the extent of this corruption are expected to emerge.
