CM seeks report on alleged land grab by Chief Secretary

Embarrassed over Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav’s alleged involvement in a land grabbing case, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed the Revenue Department to submit a fact-finding report.

Mr. Jadhav has allegedly got government land — at Ramanaikanahalli in Anekal taluk on Bengaluru’s outskirts — allotted in his mother’s name. When the 66-acre plot came up for reallocation, RTI activist S. Bhaskaran alleged that the land was allotted violating norms in a hurry. The activist has submitted a petition to the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The Chief Minister, on hearing the case on Tuesday, instructed Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner V. Shanker to submit a report. Mr. Jhadav, who met the Chief Minister, is learnt to have got an earful from Mr. Siddaramaiah. However, the Chief Secretary pleaded innocence before the Chief Minister, sources said.

Mr. Siddaramaiah told presspersons that he would react only after receiving the report from the Deputy Commissioner.

Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa said he had asked his department officials to go into the details of the case and inform him.

It is alleged that three junior government bureaucrats changed land records to favour a relative of Mr. Jadhav.

Jadhav accused of getting govt. land in Anekal taluk allotted in his mother’s name