VVIP encroachers' list: Netas, developers top in Bangalore North

VVIP encroachers' list: Netas, developers top in Bangalore North
Wednesday September 26 2007 02:47 IST

S Rajashekara

BANGALORE: Big and small-time politicians and developers top the list of VVIP land grabbers in Bangalore North, according to an official list prepared by Bangalore North (additional) taluk tahsildar.

The encroached land in this region alone is estimated to be worth over a few hundred crores. According to the official list obtained by this website's newspaper, prominent politicians whose names figure in it include Congress MLA Dinesh Gundurao, former Union Minister C M Ibrahim, former minister K K George, family members of former Chief Ministers Ramakrishna Hegde, Gundurao, relatives of Forest Minister Chennigappa, relatives of former Tumkur MP Lakkappa, among others.

Most of the encroachment is by small-time politicians like Gram and Zilla Panchayat members and block level leaders from all major political parties. This apart, the list also includes play back singer and bollywood actor Lucky Ali, multinational companies like ITC and L&T, businessman Dayananda Pai, land developers including Sobha Developers, Literate Developers, Tulip Garden Developers, Prestige Group, G R Group Developers, Prasiddi Developers, Samy's Dreamland Developers, Silver Oak Resorts besides individual grabbers who later turned into realtors.

Barring a case filed against the ITC, the Government is yet to initiate any action either to recover land or file cases against alleged encroachers. Ibrahim, according to the list, is accused of encroaching 30 guntas of Gomal land (grazing lands) in Sampigehalli, while George is accused of encroaching four acres of Gomal land at Dasenahalli.

The list specifies that family members and relatives of former Chief Minister late Gundurao including his widow Varalakshmi Gundurao, sons Dinesh, Rajesh, and Mahesh and relative H N Jamuna, allegedly encroached of 4.66 acre gomal (grazing land) land at Navaratna Agrahara.

Similarly, Shakuntala Hegde is also accused of encroaching 1.32 acres of government land in Kasaghattapura. Relatives of Chennigappa, who are running the Vivekananda School in Attur Layout, have been accused of grabbing 0.8 guntas of Gomal land, while relatives of a Lakkappa are facing action for acquiring 15 acres of government land on which they are running a touring talkies in JB Kaval.

A case has been registered against ITC factory for grabbing 6.27 acres at Tarabanahalli and an FIR has been filed, while L and T is facing charges of encroaching 36 guntas of Gomal land.

Lucky Ali is accused of encroaching a government tank measuring 1.2 acres at Kenchenahalli where he owns a Mohammed Lucky Ali estate, while Sunil Pai is accused of grabbing 2.10 acres at Kenchenahalli. No cases have been filed on them.

One C R Govinda Reddy brother of Jayappa Reddy a PLD bank director is facing charges for allegedly encroaching 23.38 acres of land at Singhanayakanahalli and at Honnenahalli. But the biggest encroacher in the list is a local Congress leader Manchanna and his relatives in Kodigehalli. In all, his family members and relatives are said to have encroached around 49 acres of land.