Slug: Setback for former MLA
CH NEWS
BENGALURU
The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash criminal proceedings against former Chintamani MLA Chowda Reddy and former Chintamani Town Municipal Council Commissioner B.H. Narayanappa in an alleged government land-grabbing case, holding that a thorough investigation is essential in the interest of justice.
Dismissing separate petitions filed by the accused, Justice M. Nagaprasanna observed that allegations involving public representatives and government officials warranted a full-fledged probe, particularly when they relate to the alleged misuse of public property.
“Land grabbing by ordinary citizens is a serious illegality. Land grabbing by those clothed with political power strikes at something far deeper—it erodes public faith in governance itself. When custodians of public trust become beneficiaries of alleged public wrongs, this court cannot permit investigation to be throttled at its inception,” the judge observed.
The court further noted that halting the investigation at this stage would amount to preventing the truth from emerging.
The case originates from a complaint lodged with the Lokayukta police on April 24, 2016, by R. Venkataramana. The complainant alleged that 1 acre and 19 guntas of government kharab land in Kannampalli village of Chintamani taluk had been illegally encroached upon by M.C. Balaji and M.C. Sudhakar, sons of Chowda Reddy.
According to the complaint, the land was converted into residential sites and sold with the assistance of their father, while Narayanappa allegedly facilitated the mutation of government land records in their favour during his tenure as municipal commissioner.
Reddy argued before the court that neither he nor his sons were MLAs when the complaint was filed and claimed the proceedings were politically motivated. Narayanappa, meanwhile, contended that he had no role in the alleged transactions, stating he had served in the municipality much earlier and retired in 2020.
After examining the records, Justice Nagaprasanna noted that a survey sketch indicated that 37 residential sites had allegedly been carved out on government land that was shown in the names of Reddy and his sons.
The court also expressed concern that although the available material prima facie suggested Balaji and Sudhakar were direct beneficiaries, they had not been named as accused in the case.
Observing that this aspect could be examined during the investigation, the court held that the allegations disclosed cognisable offences and that the probe must continue unhindered.
The ruling clears the way for the Lokayukta police to proceed with the investigation into the decade-old land-grab allegations.