RTI activist alleges land grab by CM’s kin, demands legal action 

KR Ravindra, an RTI activist from Mandya district of Karnataka has written to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and levelled allegations of land grab against his kin. The activist has sought legal action against the CM’s relatives and also demanded that government reclaim the land. 

Here are some highlights of the letter: 

To

HD Kumaraswamy

Respected Chief Minister

CMO, Vidhan Soudha, Bengaluru

Subject: Seeking legal action against your relatives who have usurped reserved forest land at Shettihalli in Srirangapatna taluk, Mandya district

Around 70 to 80 acres of land along the Bengaluru-Mysuru stretch of state highway has been usurped. Structures have been built on the land illegally. I request you to take a look at these lands during your upcoming visit to our district and reclaim the government land.

Yours Faithfully

 KR Ravindra

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The activist has alleged that Kumaraswamy’s brother-in-law Balakrishna’s relatives have usurped around 70 to 80 acres of reserved forest land. Ravindra claimed that there is around 4,463 acres of forest land at Shettihalli. In-between the forest land is the Bengaluru-Mysuru state highway. Land grabbers is said to have targeted the forest land and 403 acres has already been lost to mining. Ravindra has alleged that around 70 to 80 acres near the state highway at Ganganuru has been usurped by forcing revenue officials. The activist claims that the CM’s kin has given the project to a private agency that has constructed the state highway. The agency is said to have demolished trees and covered up canals in the region.

This is not the first time that the Chief Minister’s family’s name has figured in such a controversy. Earlier, former Karnataka Minister and Congress leader A Manju had alleged Kumaraswamy’s brother and Pwd Minister HD Revanna of forging land documents. Kumaraswamy’s nephew Prajwal Revanna had received notices for constructing illegal structures in Hassan district of Karnataka.

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The BJP slammed the CM on the issue, “The Chief Minister is showing his true colours. Earlier, Congress leader A Manju had levelled land grab allegations against HD Revanna and now you have this allegation. The government must do its job and answer the RTI activist.  HD Kumaraswamy completed six months in office recently but with more such allegations coming to the fore the CM’s image seems to be taken a hit.