The arrest of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) councillor Katta Jagadish by the Lokayukta police in connection with the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) scam has opened another can of worms with the role of another councillor — M. Gopi of Sampangiramnagar Ward — coming to the fore in the same case.
Name in FIR
It has been alleged that Mr. Gopi, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was also involved in the scam with his name being mentioned in the FIR that was filed in 2009 in Bagalur Police Station. When asked about the status of the case by presspersons here on Saturday, Mayor S.K. Nataraj said action would be taken only after the Lokayukta presented the report. As the matter is sub judice , he refused to comment on it further.
On the other hand, sources in the Lokayukta said the case is currently with the police and they are yet to look into the allegations made against the councillor. It has reliably been learnt that senior police officials have asked the Bagalur police to reopen the case and probe the matter. Mr. Gopi's name figures among the persons accused of cheating farmers by falsifying records and claiming compensation for land acquired by KIADB.
Congress complaint
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson M. Ramachandrappa told The Hindu the party had not only urged Mayor Nataraj to take action against the councillor, but also lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission (SEC) against Mr. Gopi for his failure to disclose the police case registered against him in the affidavit submitted at the time of filing his nomination papers for the elections to BBMP in March 2010.
“The SEC should take serious note of the lapse and initiate immediate action against him. His election should be declared null and void because of the lapse,” Mr. Ramachandrappa said.
Suspension sought
Rajya Pragatipara Sanghatenagala Okkoota, a federation of minority and progressive groups, has sought the suspension of Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu's son Katta Jagadish from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for his alleged involvement in the land scam.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, N.V. Narasimhaiah, working president of AHINDA said Mr. Jagadish should be suspended for allegedly bribing a witness connected to the investigation. “When councillor L. Govindaraj was suspended in a case of bribery, why can't the same action be taken against Mr. Jagadish? The Bharatiya Janata Party Government has constantly been plagued by many corruption cases in its brief tenure. The Government cannot continue like this,” he said.
