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Karnataka home minister Jnanendra denies any wrongdoing in allocation of prime land in Bengaluru
Jnanendra found himself in the middle of a controversy after allegations that he was allotted a site in Bengaluru in violation of Supreme Court guidelines, adding to the list of charges against the BJP government.
Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra on Tuesday dismissed allegation that he misused his powers in getting a Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) site.
Jnanendra found himself in the middle of a controversy after allegations that he was allotted a site in Bengaluru in violation of Supreme Court guidelines, adding to the list of charges against the BJP government.
Jnanendra on Tuesday told HT that he was allocated a site in 2006 which was taken back and they repeated the process in 2009. He was again allocated a site last November and claimed that he has not received any notice of violation from the BDA.
“They (BDA) said the site here (RMV) had more valuation than HSR and took additional money from me. Since 2009, it has not been my fate to build a house. I have applied for a loan and even a plan for my house has been accepted. As soon as it happened, I got these reports. I don’t even have a square foot of land anywhere in the state except in my village. It’s not in my fate to even build a home in the government-allocated G category site,” the minister said.
A person from the home minister’s office told HT on Tuesday: “In 2006, he (Jnanendra) was allotted a site in the HRBR layout. After the site was registered, the BDA said there was some legal issue and withdrew it. They again allocated another site where even fencing and a borewell was dug only to be withdrawn again. Now a few days ago, they allocated another site which has been registered and fenced. Now, there is some news that there is a violation, but we are yet to receive any formal notice from the BDA.”
BDA Commissioner Rajesh Gowda and Chairman, SR Vishwanath could not be reached for comment.
According to a media report on Tuesday, Jnanendra was allocated a site measuring 50/80 in the affluent RMV 2nd stage locality and estimated the value of the site to be around ₹10 crore.
According to the BDA (Allotment of Sites) Rules 1984, sites that are recovered can be sold only through a public auction and alternative sites can be given only in new layouts. According to the allotment rules, “There is no bar for the BDA to form the sites in the recovered land subject to the land use indicated in the approved layout plan and dispose of them by public auction.”
It further adds that both intermediary and corner sites in developed layouts have to be disposed of only by public auction.
The HMO refused to put a value on the site and said there was no violation on its part. Incidentally, it was the same ‘G’ category site allocation discrepancy in 2012 that
The allegations add to the piling charges of corruption and misuse of government machinery on the Basavaraj Bommai-led administration which includes the 40% commission scandal, laundering ill-gotten money through cryptocurrencies and other charges.
The growing allegations, coupled with the recent outburst of anger by the BJP youth wing over the murder of Praveen Nettaru in Dakshina Kannada, has fueled speculation of a possible leadership change in Karnataka.
“Wonder why BJP is replacing Sri Bommai. Is it because of: #Bitcoin scam, PSI & other job scams, 40% Govt tag, Worsening Law & Order, BJP v/s BJP, Cadres backlash, Noncooperation of Ministers, slow pace administration, Communal narrative Or all of the above,” Priyank Kharge, Congress legislator and former minister said.
