Suresh Kumar, accompanied by his counsel, deposed before Deputy SP N T Pramod Rao, who is investigating the matter and was questioned for nearly 45 minutes during which he was asked about his role in granting the land although return of land was not permissible once it was acquired under the Karnataka Urban Land Ceiling Act (KULCA), BMTF sources told PTI.
Suresh Kumar expressed his ignorance about the case and sought to see the files in the possession of the investigating officer. He stated that the legal luminaries of the state were consulted before proceeding further and all procedures were followed while returning the land, the sources said.
After Suresh Kumar left, Krishnaiah Setty too reached the BMTF police station along with his lawyer and deposed before the Investigating Officer. He was reportedly questioned nearly two hours. Setty too gave a statement similar to Suresh Kuma, sources said.
The duo are reported to have told the officer that they would be always ready to cooperate with the investigation and can depose whenever their presence is sought.
Their next disposition, according to sources, is slated for November 23.
It is alleged that Suresh Kumar and Setty played key roles to return of 4.20 acres to Gopinath, which was acquired in 1982. Of the over 16 acres acquired under KULCA, 4.20 acres were given to Karnataka Slum Development Board to construct houses for the urban poor.
When the construction was in the final stage, Suresh Kumar and Setty allegedly halted the work. Despite strong protest by the KSDB, government went ahead and returned the land.
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Meanwhile, BMTF today served notices to former Additional Chief Secretary and former administrator of the BBMP (city corporation) K M Shivakumar and two other government officials to depose before it next week in connection with the alleged undue favour shown to a private builder.
BMTF served notices Shivakumar, Town and Country Planning officer S S Topagi, BBMP and two commissioners of civic agencies to depose before in connection with their showing alleged undue favour to DLF Southern Homes Private Limited, BMTF sources said.
According to the sources, Shivakumar and Topagi have been asked to appear before the investigating officer on November 20 while the two commissioners were asked to depose on November 21.
It is alleged that Shivakumar, Topagi and the two commissioners reportedly allowed widening of Begur-Hulimavu road from 18 metres to 24 metres so as to legalise construction of a building by DLF beyond the permissible limits.