Case registered against 8 people in Rs 160 crore land encroachment case

Bengaluru: Police have registered two separate cases at Sheshadripuram police station against eight individuals, including former BBMP corporator Lakshminarayan and retired KAS officer L.C. Nagaraj, for allegedly forging documents and grabbing land worth around Rs 160 crore belonging to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

Based on a complaint filed by BDA vigilance wing Deputy SP B.

Hanumantharaya, FIRs have been registered against former corporator C. Lakshminarayan, associates Maruti Kumar, Anjinappa, Somasekhar, Ramesh, Pradeep, H.R. Umesh, and L.C. Nagaraj. Notices will be issued to five of them to appear for questioning. All accused are currently absconding, police said.

How the alleged fraud happened

The land in question is located in Survey No. 176/1 of Kothanur, measuring 2 acres 35 guntas, which was notified for acquisition for the JP Nagar 8th Phase layout.

The khatedar was E.R.R. Palkon, and after his death, his wife Mariamma held the rights and had already received compensation.

However, the accused allegedly conspired in 2008 to create fake documents. They allegedly prepared forged records showing Maruti Kumar as having a will in his favour. Retired officer L.C. Nagaraj is accused of obtaining a court order based on these forged documents.

It is alleged that the accused used the name of Narayanappa and Govindappa in the fake will and illegally took control of the BDA land.

About 10 guntas of the 3.05 acres was reportedly being sold to organisations by Lakshminarayan, while the remaining land is still in his name.

Investigators say the conspiracy was planned since 2008, and fingerprints and documents were misused to fabricate the will. The Forensic Science Laboratory has confirmed that the documents were forged, police said.

A similar fraud is also alleged in Survey No. 177/1 of Kothanur involving 10 guntas of land, in which multiple accused, including Lakshminarayan and others, are named in another FIR.

Retired officer’s involvement

Retired KAS officer L.C. Nagaraj, who was earlier Bengaluru South Sub-Division officer in 2008, is accused of facilitating the accused by accepting forged death certificates and obtaining court orders illegally. Officials said he acted against Supreme Court guidelines, which state that will-related disputes must be resolved in civil courts, not in revenue courts.

Nagaraj had earlier been arrested in the IMA scam and also faced ACB raids.

He had contested the 2023 Madhugiri Assembly election as a BJP candidate but lost.

Authorities have pegged the total value of the disputed land at around Rs 160 crore.