: Karnataka State Minorities Commission Chairperson Bilkhees Banu today called the special report submitted by former chairman Anwar Manipaddy to the state government in 2012 as 'illegal', claiming the probe was done in violation of stipulated rules and it was politically motivated to target some political leaders.
"The special report submitted by Manipaddy was illegal. He submitted the report to then government without getting the resolution passed in the Commission," she told reporters.
Banu said violating all Commission's norms, the former chairman hired a private agency to conduct investigation into the alleged involvement of powerful people, including some politicians and land mafia.
"As a chairperson of the Commission, I cannot take an independent decision and submit any such report without passing a resolution," she said.
Banu also said Manipaddy's 'unlawful' submission of the report to the government was politically motivated to target some political leaders.
"The very submission of the report without passing a resolution clearly indicates it was a politically motivated act, which was inclined to target some political leaders," she said.
Manipaddy, on March 12 2012,in a press conference claimed an alleged scam of over Rs 2 lakh crore, involving Wakf Board land. The state-government appointed committee had submitted the 7000-page report to then Chief Minister D Sadananda Gowda.
The panel was constituted by the government in November 2010 following complaints and media reports on the alleged role of politicians and Wakf Board officials in the illegal sale of land to individuals.
Asked about the status of the report and if government has rejected the findings, Banu said "The report is before the government and it is left to them to take a decision on it."
However,the BJP has been vociferous in raising the issue, demanding the tabling of the report in both Houses during the joint legislature session in January and February, but as of now it has not been done so.
Earlier, Banu said the commission will observe 'Minorities Rights Day' on December 18.
The United Nation had declared December 18 to observe as Minorities Rights Day every year.
