Bangalore: KIADB Scam – Minister Katta Subrahmanya’s Wicket Expected to Fall
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Sep 27: The proverbial Damocles Sword has started hanging above the head of Katta Subrahmanya Naidu, minister for housing, after the issue of his son’s involvement in Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) scam came to the fore. His son is a city corporator. The Chief Minister (CM), by dropping medical education minister, Ramachandra Gowda, for some lapses in appointment to two medical colleges, has expressed himself against irregularities in departments, irrespective of whether they are grave or not.
The above step, taken by Yeddyurappa even as the case relating to the alleged irregular appointments was under the consideration of state High Court, now compels him to follow suit in the case of Katta, a close associate of the CM, even the party men feel. Lokayukta sources have said that the minister and his son, Katta Jagadish, are involved with serious irregularities in land acquisition procedures. Naidu, when he was the minister for large industries in the JDS-BJP government, has been accused of creating fake records to acquire government lands and making payment of compensation thereof. He is also accused of misusing the compensation amounts by claiming them in the names of farmers.
When contacted, BJP state president, K S Eshwarappa, refused to comment on the above issue. He said he feels it improper to say anything, as the issue is under the Lokayukta investigation. He added that the question of taking action against the minister will come up only after the receipt of report from the Lokayukta and after thoroughly examining as to whether he was actually involved with the alleged scam.
In the meanwhile, the CM visited ‘Keshava Krupa’, headquaters of Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh in the city, on Sunday and held discussions with the leaders there for over an hour. It is learnt that he elicited views of RSS leaders over the snowballing issue of Katta’s involvement with KIADB scam and the action he is expected to take against the concerned.