The special Lok Ayukta court on Thursday ordered an investigation into the private complaint against home minister R Ashoka for alleged illegal acquisition of a denotified land in Lottegollahalli.
The special Lok Ayukta court on Thursday ordered an investigation into the private complaint against home minister R Ashoka for alleged illegal acquisition of a denotified land in Lottegollahalli.
The court directed the Lokayukta superintendent of police, Bangalore Urban district, to submit the report on November 5.
The private complaint, filed before the court on Wednesday by advocate Jayakumar Hiremath, alleges that Ashoka illegally denotified 23 guntas in Lottegollahalli, which was earlier acquired by the Bangalore Development Authority to form Raj Mahal Vilas Layout. He later registered the land in his favour.
The complaint, which also names BS Yeddyurappa as an accused, pertains to the former chief minister’s alleged illegal land denotification. Hiremath also alleged that the illegal land acquisition by Ashoka caused a loss of Rs26 crore to the state exchequer.
Filed under Section 156(3) of the CrPc, the complaint alleged that Ashoka acquired the land, which is currently worth over Rs15 crore, for a meagre Rs44.77 lakh.
Earlier, a Right to Information activist, M Manjunath had filed a similar complaint before the 23rd additional civil and sessions court. The court, on March 24, had directed the Lok Ayukta police to probe the matter under Section 202 (1) of the CrPc. The police were directed to submit its report by May 4. Ashoka then moved the high court on March 31, seeking quashing of the complaint.
Manjunath, on July 12, moved a memo before the high court to withdraw the complaint pending in the lower court. The single judge of the high court said the complaint can be withdrawn. Later, a deal was settled between Manjunath and Ashoka to withdraw the case.
Minister denies comment
Declining to comment on the Lok Ayukta court order for investigation into the alleged illegal land acquisition, Ashoka said he would come out with a detailed response on Friday.
Demands for resignation
The Lok Ayukta court order set off the demand for Ashoka’s resignation. Leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly Siddaramaiah and JD(S) spokesperson YSV Datta called for Ashoka’s immediate resignation.
“He has no moral right to continue in office. It would not be possible to expect an impartial investigation by the Lok Ayukta police as long as he continues to be the home minister as the Lok Ayukta police comes under the home ministry,” Siddaramaiah said.
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