11 March,2011 06:19 AM IST | | Manjunath L Hanji
Claims he was cheated by KIADB and therefore attempted to steal property papers, whereas cops say he was keeping the file among approved ones to claim Rs 2.1 crore that board that agreed to pay for his land
In a funny twist of events, a lawyer, well aware of punishment for breaking laws, unwisely set out to commit a crime. Narayanaswamy (27), and his friend Deregouda (28), were nabbed for breaking into Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) office in Gandhinagar on Wednesday night, using a duplicate key.
Lawbreakers: Advocate Narayanaswamyu00a0with Deregouda broke into
Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board office on Wednesday night
During questioning, Narayanaswamy confessed that he entered the office to steal a file pertaining to a 200-acre plot in Mahadevkodigehalli village near Chikkajala that KIADB officials recently acquired. He said that his parents had also lost 3 acres during the acquisition agreement.
He claimed that KIADB agreed to pay them Rs 70 lakh per acre, but the money was yet to be released. After several attempts tou00a0 get his case looked into, he decided to use criminal tactics to get hold of the file in the hope to claim his property. Police investigating the case however, are uncertain what to make of his story.
The plot
Narayanswamy had recently registered his name with the Bar Association and used to visit KIADB office with the intention to offer his services to farmers who were in need of a lawyer. During his visits, he befriended a person in charge of the keys to the office complex and managed to get a duplicate key.
Narayanswamy and Deregouda reached the KIADB office on Wednesday night and while Deregouda kept watch, Narayanswamy unlocked the door, entered the office and bolted the door behind him. Meanwhile, night watchman, Makkesh, from the opposite building, saw the duo and alerted the police who arrived on time and arrested them.
Motive unclear
Lokeshwar, PI, Upparpet police station said, "We have started investigations and there are several holes in his story. Recently KIADB began issuing cheques to farmers and there is a possibility that the duo intended to steal them."
He added, "Another possibility is that since Narayanswamy's property file was submitted late and may have been rejected, he may have been attempting to place it with the approved files at the KIADB office. However, we are yet to confirm the details." When contacted, senior KIADB officials refused to comment as the matter is under investigation.
