While reports are cropping up everyday of land scams, a land scam has now surfaced in Mysore too.
The Dr B R Ambedkar Development Corporation has sold land that it bought for distribution to the SC and ST families to the children of the same land sellers, committing several irregularities.
Revealing this, Mysore Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta said this had come to light after an inquiry by the probationary IAS officers over a complaint that the corporation had not made any land distribution properly. “An examination of the report on the surface of it shows that the complaint is true,” he said.
“After obtaining detailed reports from an investigation team from his office and the two sub-divisional officers of the district, further action will be taken. Those responsible for the irregularities will not only be punished but could be sent to jail,” the DC said, while speaking during the review of the land distribution made by the corporation.
Following allegations, the probationary IAS officers of the district were asked to look into the files concerned of the corporation. A report submitted by them after examining the records showed that the lands bought from those who had sold it for being distributed to the landless farm workers belonging to SC and ST groups, had been allotted to the children of the very same land sellers.
“A random check revealed that the lands had been given to those who owned two RCC buildings and two-wheelers. Hence, an indepth inquiry will follow,” he said.
Also Read
A direction had been given to examine the income certificates given by the Tahsildars to the land allottees. Tahsildars have no powers to issue certificates certifying that the beneficiaries are farm workers. Though the powers are vested with the sub-divisional officers yet the tahsildars have issued such certificates. The sub-divisional officers have been asked to investigate into this, Gupta said.
Saying that the selection of beneficiaries itself was not proper, he said the issue whether they were beneficiaries earlier have not been looked into. The annual income of such beneficiaries should be less than Rs22,000. But those who have benefited from land allotments were in a better position. Further, the sellers of the lands themselves have chosen the beneficiaries. About 8-9 allotments made in the last two years give room to suspicion. Therefore, an in-depth inquiry has been ordered, the DC stated.