Controversy over BDA site allotment to minister Sharan Patil

Minister for Medical Education Dr Sharan Prakash Patil is in the midst of a controversy for ‘eyeing’ a 4,000-sqft plot in HSR Layout, which the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) had allotted to someone else in 2011.

Documents available with DH show that the BDA had allotted a ‘G’ Category site measuring 2,400 sq ft at HBR Layout to Dr Patil in 2005 and the lease-cum-sale deed was executed in his name in 2007. However, in 2012 he asked the BDA to allot him a plot measuring 50X80 ft in HSR Layout cancelling the one in HBR Layout. On April 18, 2012, the BDA obliged him and allotted him site number 1089:A in HSR Layout, Sector-3.

While allotting the site, the BDA did not verify that it had already allotted the same site to R Gunashekhar on December 1, 2011. On October 10, 2014, the absolute sale deed was executed in his favour and three days later, on October 13, 2014, the BDA issued possession certificate to him.

After 16 days of obtaining the possession certificate, Gunashekhar sold the site to Sanjay O J who in turn sold it to Kumar M on September 30, 2015 for Rs 3.5 crore. Since then Kumar possesses the site.
Kumar said, “Before purchasing the property, I issued a public notification in four prominent newspapers of Karnataka and there was no objection from anywhere.”

The current position is that Kumar is not allowed to go near his own property. “I am receiving threat calls. Even the local police have advised me not to venture near my property,” he claimed. When contacted, Dr Patil’s instant remark was: “Are those people (property owners) innocent? The BDA owes an explanation, not me.”

He then explained that in 2005, the BDA had agreed to give him a site measuring 4,000 sqft but in 2007 it allotted a site measuring 2,400 sqft. The site at HSR Layout, which Kumar is possessing was actually allotted to Minister for Tourism Priyank Kharge but he surrendered it. The sale deed was canceled in 2012. “I then applied to the BDA to allot me the same site, which Kharge had surrendered. The BDA officials obliged,” Dr Patil said.
DH News Service