The state Lokayukta Police on Wednesday filed an FIR against former Chief Minsters of Karnataka, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa and JD (S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, for allegedly denotifying and fixing land deals in Bengaluru. Kumaraswamy's mother-in-law Vimala, her son Chennappa, and other officials have also been booked in connection with the denotification case. The case pertains to the deals of lands, survey No. 7/1B, 7/1C, and 7/1D that were originally owned by Thimma Reddy, T Nagappa, and Muniswamappa until BDA acquired it to establish Matadahalli Layout in RT Nagar. "It is a parcel of 1 acre and 11 guntas land in Gangenahalli, for which final notification was issued in 1988 as an extension of the Mathadahalli Layout by the BDA. A person named Rajashekharaiah claimed he had physical possession of this land and sought its denotification in 2007," Lokayukta SP Sonia Narang told media. Kumaraswamy, the then-CM, insisted that Rajashekharaiah's denotification request be accepted, going against the officials' recommendation against it. After coming to power, Yeddyurppa also denotified the land deals in 2010. The FIR was lodged based on a complaint filed by activist Jayakumar Hiremath. Both the rival leaders have been booked under Sections 13 (i) (c) and (d), and 13 (ii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, pertaining to criminal misconduct by public servant. Besides these, charges under Sections 401 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 418 (Cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest offender is bound to protect), 420 (cheating), and 120 B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code have also been slapped against the duo.
