Bangalore: Governor Sanctions Katta’s Prosecution

Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jul 7: State Governor, Hansraj Bhardwaj, gave his nod to Karnataka Lokayukta to file charge sheet against former IT minister, Katta Subrahmanya Naidu, in the Lokayukta court relating a multi-crore land acquisition scam. The Lokayukta wants to prosecute Naidu for his alleged involvement in the land scam involving Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board.

In all likelihood, the Lokayukta will be filing the charge sheet in the court within a week. Lokayukta, Justice N Santosh Hegde, indicated that filing of charge sheet would require a minimum of three days. Once the court begins its hearing, Katta will be required to attend the court proceedings and adduce evidence. If the need be, the Lokayukta may also arrest him. This may also result in embarrassment to the BJP regime, of which Katta is a powerful leader.

The government is yet to give permission to prosecute the minister’s son, Katta Jagadish, a city corporator. Jagadish was nabbed while handing over cash amounting to one lac rupees to a farmer named Ramanjinappa, a witness in the KIADB scam. The Lokayukta has completed investigation in this case too, and is learnt to have forwarded its proposal to prosecute Jagadish, to the ministry of urban development, recently. It is gathered that Lokayukta can prosecute Jagadish, even if the government does not give its clearance.

The Lokayukta says that Subrahmanya Naidu, in connivance with KIADB, had got involved with irregularities relating to acquiring land for three special economic zones at Jala revenue division near Bangalore international airport in September 2010. In addition to Naidu, his son, nine KIADB officials, and a number of individuals have been accused of involvement with this scam. Seven cases were registered in this connection by the Lokayukta police. It is said that land acquired for a company named ITASCA Software Company, said to be a Benami company floated by Naidu, was later disposed off in favour of Hindu Builders, a concern owned by Naidu’s wife, and son, Katta Jagadish. Fake documents, fraudulent disposal etc, have been found by the police in this case.

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