JDS leader alleges land scam in Bengaluru

JDS Karnataka unit president H D Kumaraswamy today alleged that several people including state Industries Minister R V Deshpande have illegally acquired vast tracts of reserved forest land near here, a charge denied by the minister.
In a press conference here, the former chief minister tabled documents to support his claims of a "land scam" as he said that the state government was proposing to fix the guideline value of land at Rs 22,000 per sq feet and once that was done the value of the "scam" would be more than Rs 14,000 crore.
Kumaraswamy alleged that these people, including Deshpande, had "illegally" acquired more than 177 acres in Jakkur-Allasandra plantation village, which was declared Reserved Forest in 1940 by erstwhile Mysore Government.

Meanwhile, reacting to the charge Deshpande said he had not acquired any land in Jakkur illegally.
"There is no truth in the allegations levelled by Kumaraswamy. Whatever property I have built on Jakkur land is legal and haven't acquired it illegally," he told reporters.
"Is it possible to purchase land declared as reserved forest? It is not possible. I request Kumaraswamy to review his allegations against me," he added.

Kumaraswamy said he had been informed that the Siddaramaiah government was going to fix guidance value of land at Rs 22,000 per sq ft. "If this value is fixed in future, the scam will be worth approximately over Rs 14,000 crore," he said.

Claiming that the state Chief Conservator of Forests had written a letter bringing the 'scam' to the government's notice, he accused Siddaramaiah and the Forest Ministry of inaction.
"The scam has been brought to the notice of the government by none other than the chief conservator of forests by writing a letter to the government, demanding an inquiry," he said.
The Chief Minister, after forming the government, had promised strict action against land grabbers, but so far no action had been taken, he said.
"Whose interest or whom are the Chief Minister protecting - the land-grabbers or poor people, who are the rightful beneficiaries of government land to build houses. The Chief Minister should respond immediately," Kumaraswamy said.