Karnataka Lokayukta Seeks Prosecution of Revenue Officer in ₹800-Crore Government Land Conversion Case
A Karnataka Revenue Officer allegedly facilitated the conversion of over 35 acres of government Kharab land and lake area in Yelahanka into private property valued at ₹800 crore through manipulated revenue records and administrative actions. The Lokayukta's Police Wing sought prosecution sanctions in 2021 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, but the request has remained pending with the State government for over five years. The case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in land record management and raises concerns about official complicity in converting public assets into private holdings.
A Revenue Officer in Karnataka allegedly enabled the illegal conversion of government-owned Kharab land and lake area spanning 35 acres in Yelahanka into private property valued at ₹800 crore. The officer, along with four other officials, allegedly manipulated revenue records including RTCs, mutation entries, and survey sketches to create false documentation of private ownership over land originally classified as government property. When the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board initiated acquisition proceedings, private claimants used these fabricated records to challenge the acquisition in the Karnataka High Court, gaining administrative legitimacy for their claims. The Lokayukta's Police Wing identified the contradiction between original archival records showing government ownership and later entries reflecting private possession, but the officer allegedly chose to rely on the fraudulent later entries rather than verify primary documents. Multiple sale deeds were subsequently executed in 2024 through the Byatarayanapura Sub-Registrar's Office, transferring portions of the land between private parties. Despite the Police Wing's prosecution proposal submitted in 2021 under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the State government has neither approved nor rejected the request for over five years.
What's missing
The article does not identify the specific names of the Revenue Officer or the four other officials allegedly involved, nor does it provide details on the current status of the 2024 sale deeds or whether any legal challenges have been filed to reverse the transactions. Additionally, the reasons for the State government's five-year delay in responding to the prosecution proposal are not explained.
What different sources said
- The HinduCenter
Government land turned into ₹800-crore private asset, Lokayukta’s plea to prosecute revenue officer pending since 2021
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