Gowda probe: Is CM hitting back?

With the JD(S) leader and his kin facing new cases against them, speculation is rife that these could be politically motivated; the complainant, however, denies any such agenda

With the JD(S) leader and his kin facing new cases against them, speculation is rife that these could be politically motivated; the complainant, however, denies any such agenda

Even as cases against Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa proceeds in the court, the Lokayukta office is being flooded with cases against the Gowda family for having amassed wealth illegally.


In trouble: The Lokayukta office is being flooded with cases against the
Gowda family for illegally amassing wealth. Pic/Ramesh HS

After a similar complaint was registered on January 25 by S T Thegihalli, against HD Kumaraswamy and Balakrishna Gowda, another advocate has filed a case against H D Kumaraswamy and others with the Lokayukta police yesterday, with similar allegations.

The complainant, Tulasidas Yallusa Havanur, an advocate from Hubli added that he is not backed by any political party. "The case is being filed with public interest in mind. I have received documents regarding Kumaraswamy's illegal land dealings. If I get such documents against Yeddyurappa, I shall still file a case. There is no political party behind this."

Lokayuktha Justice Santhosh Hegde is yet to take up the case. "They have indulged in a number of illegal land dealings, renewal of mining licence in two hours, land grabbings, and a number of lands allotted to the members of the Gowda family. The cases are filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The allegations

Illegal land deals:
During his tenure as CM between February 2006-October 2007, HD Kumaraswamy made bulk allotment of property worth Rs 300 crore, and got illegal gratification allotted to a site measuring 16,500 sqft in favour of his wife worth Rs 13.20 crore. This property was later surrendered to the society.

Land grabbing:
H D Deve Gowda and family members began land grabbing ever since he became an MLA. Around 82 acres 4 guntas of government land, inclusive of gomala land, tank bed, inam land, were granted in the names of Deve Gowda, Chenemma, Rame Gowda, H D Basave Gowda, H D Revanna and several other family members.

H D Basave Gowda, H D Shaila, H D Kumaraswamy, H Kavitha, H Savitha, KM Hombe Gowda and their relatives have all furnished false details that they were residents of Mysore and got 46 sites allotted in Saraswathipuram, Gangothri, T Koppal and Kesare when Kumaraswamy was the CM.