Tahsildars sell hundreds of acres near airport using fake papers

BANGALORE: Devanahalli, home to the new international airport, also seems to be the breeding ground for land scams. In the latest case that has come to light, four tahsildars allegedly sold off government plots worth hundreds of crores of rupees to private land developers between 2008 and 2013.
The tahsildars L C Nagaraju, Asha Parveen, Mariyappa Gowda and Sampath Kumar ? allegedly created fake documents for tracts of government land in Devanahalli, Rayasandra, Vishwanathapura, Hosahalli, Chikkanahalli, Hegganahalli, Koramangala and Beerasandra in Kasaba Hobli.
The scam came to light when commissioner of survey settlement and land records (SSLR) V Ponnuraj (now on central deputation) formed a team to randomly check government land allotment to beneficiaries a few months ago.
According to sources in the Bangalore rural deputy commissioner (DC) office, the SSLR department has seized files relating to over 1,000 acres and is ascertaining the quantum of loss to the government. The SSLR commissioner has written to the principal secretary, revenue department, recommending criminal proceedings against officials involved in the scam.
"The market value of an acre here is anywhere between Rs 60 and Rs 70 lakh," sources in Devanahalli tahsildar office said.
When a huge tract having a single survey number is allotted by dividing it, podi (actual length and breadth) of each part has to be measured and a new survey number should be given to each of them. Tahsildars should get the approval of DC and deputy director land records (DDLR) for the fresh podi and survey.
The four tahsildars, without informing their higher officials, went ahead with fresh podi using fake documents, leading to sale of the tracks to private land developers.
While Nagaraju is now the assistant commissioner of Bangalore south sub-division, Asha has been suspended by the government a few months ago for various other charges. The other two ? Sampath and Mariyappa Gowda ? have retired.
Lokayukta probe
Taking a suo motu cognizance of the scam, Lokayukta additional DGP H N Sathyanarayana Rao has written to Bangalore Rural DC V Shankar seeking details about it.
Confirming that Lokayukta police have sought details from him, Shankar told TOI that documents pertaining to the scam are with the SSLR department. "I have written to SSLR commissioner to submit the documents to the Lokayukta soon," he said. The DC has also formed a six-member panel, headed by additional DC of Bangalore Rural district Vasanthi Amar, to find out the quantum loss to government.