Karnataka high court seeks land mafia report in 4 months

The Karnataka high court has sought a detailed investigation report on allegations of land grabbing of institutions working for the welfare of the visually challenged in the state. A division bench comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice AS Bopanna directed the state to appoint a police officer to probe the cases and submit a report within four months. The order was issued based on a PIL by SP Murthy, general secretary of the Karnataka Welfare Association for the Blind.

The petition stated that eight acres belonging to the Divine Light School for Blind in Whitefield was sold to three people, now holding the sale deed of the land with a market value of Rs100 crore.

As pressure mounted on the joint action committee for the disabled, a group of pro bona  lawyers took over the case and the chief justice appointed MD Anuradha Urs as the amicus curiae.

The petition alleged that influential people, including former mayor of Bangalore TD Naganna, were involved in land grabbing.

Murthy alleged that the Karnataka Welfare Association building and its land were also in the verge of being taken over. There were also attempts to grab the land belonging to Bharatiya Grameena Mahila Sangha in Rameshnagar and Vibhutipura, he alleged.