Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Member of Parliament N R Ramesh has leveled serious allegations of a massive land grab involving approximately 500 acres of government land in Tavarekere, located on the outskirts of Bengaluru. He has called for an immediate and comprehensive high-level investigation into what he describes as a well-organized syndicate's illegal operation.
The Allegations and Demand for Investigation
Addressing the media in Bengaluru on Thursday, Ramesh presented his claims, urging both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to intervene. He stated that a powerful syndicate, which includes influential landowners, real estate agents, and possibly some government officials, has systematically forged documents to illegally take possession of vast tracts of valuable government land. The estimated value of the allegedly grabbed land runs into thousands of crores of rupees. Ramesh emphasized that only a probe by central agencies could unravel the full extent of this scam and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Details of the Alleged Land Scam
According to the BJP leader, the modus operandi involves creating fake documents and manipulating land records to show private ownership of land that legally belongs to the government. This land, he asserts, is part of government poramboke (unassigned) land or land meant for public purposes. The syndicate allegedly uses these forged papers to sell plots or develop layouts, misleading innocent buyers in the process. The scale of the operation, covering 500 acres, points to a deep-rooted network with significant financial backing and political clout. Ramesh did not mince words, directly challenging the state government's willingness to act against such powerful entities.
Political Repercussions and Next Steps
These allegations have added fuel to the ongoing political tussle in Karnataka, with the opposition BJP putting the ruling Congress government on the defensive over issues of governance and land management. Ramesh's press conference is seen as a move to highlight alleged corruption and administrative failure. He has vowed to pursue the matter relentlessly, including potentially approaching the courts if the state authorities fail to initiate a credible probe. The controversy shines a spotlight on the persistent issue of land encroachment and fraud in the rapidly developing areas around Bengaluru, where land prices have skyrocketed. The demand for a CBI/ED probe sets the stage for a major political and legal battle.
The state government has yet to issue an official response to these specific allegations. The coming days are likely to see increased pressure on the administration to clarify its stance and announce a course of action regarding the serious claims made by the senior BJP figure.
