The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) has registered an FIR against Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka for granting four acres of bagair hukum land each to Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy and his wife K Prabha in Somanhalli village of Uttarahalli hobli.
The couple had applied for the land in 1999 which was allotted to them in 2004 by Ashoka, who, as a legislator headed the bagair hukum land grant committee of Uttarahalli constituency.
In the month of May, the allotment was cancelled on the ground that the allottees had furnished false information to the committee. Deccan Herald had broken the story about how Venkatesh Murthy had declared himself as a landless farm labourer while his wife K Prabha had suppressed the fact that she was Venkatesh Murthy’s wife, instead retained her status as the daughter of Kenchappa even after 16 years of marriage.
Based on the report, the BMTF registered a case of cheating against Mayor and his wife, and subsequently served a notice on Ashoka for making frivolous recommendations. When Ashoka did not depose before the investigating officer of BMTF, a case was registered against Ashoka and two other corporators.
For the full report in the Deccan Herald, click here
The question that arises is how can a Home Minister (and Deputy Chief Minister, to boot) continue in the position when an FIR has been filed against him by the department reporting to him? The malafides of his actions are obvious (and, not confined just to this matter; in fact, the question could as well be as to which of the scams related to the city/ state is he not linked with?), and that's obviously why he is playing truant.
Isn't it time the Civil Society demanded that he steps down?
Muralidhar Rao
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Filing an FIR is no big deal?
Filing an FIR is no big deal?
Bangalore, Oct 23, 2012: A complaint against Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok has been registered with the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) police station for alleged irregularities in the allotment of bagair hukum land to mayor D Venkatesh Murthy. For this report Click here [1]
Almost all papers including TOI, Hindu and other media have reported this hot news. For the TOI report Click here. [2]
actually mean that?
@ psaram42 - Such instances have become so common place in the country that, I admit, people have become inclined to think that it is after all no big a deal. But, the entire purpose of this blog group is to try and change that mindset amongst the people, and in turn to get them demand from the public servants that they change their ways too. As such, while your comment may be ok for a gossip or time-pass site, I would like to submit that you are not helping our cause any, but on the contrary only just helping to perpetuate the status quo.
Whatever, I consider the matter serious enough to want to shoot off a letter to the CM demanding that Mr Ashok be asked to step down. I expect I have the support of RAAG.
how about law minister?
..and yes we demand the removal of the central govt law minister too..
and they will come back saying like what AMbica Soni did.."If you only keep asking for resignations, then how will the government work?"
Doesnt it sound like its time for a major upheaval?
That question mark was Missing
That question mark was missing. Murali sir. Do you really think I am wasting my time on Praja site to gossip? A Very unfair remark I feel!
Good work Praja
All three nodes of our civic triangle viz
1. law makers
2. enforcement wing
3. and judiciary
are weak with increasing laxity and or corruption.
Compare this with the USA.
“Former McKinsey head Rajat Gupta was on Wednesday sentenced by a New York court to two years in prison and a $5 million fine following his conviction on charges of insider trading. US district judge Jed Rakoff said the proof against him was “not only overwhelming, it was disgusting”. What Gupta did was the “functional equivalent of stabbing Goldman in the back, the judge said.”
For the times of India report click here. [1]
Should praja file a complaint with the judiciary too?
we need to keep at it
@ psaram42 - Your earlier post conveyed a wrong message, perhaps unintended. But, if allowed to remain unchalleged, I was afraid an impression could go around that we are just another chat group, and that's why I responded the way I did. Well, now that I know that it was not intended in the way it came across originally, my apologies if I hurt your feelings.
As far as I am concerned, I am of the belief that we need to speak up whenever we see a wrong committed. Like the Indian Express had maintained during Madame Indira Gandhi's Emergency Regime ('75 - '77), with the punch-line - "We may not have changed the world, but we may atleast have embarrassed the guilty", we too need to constantly expose wrongs and demand change, even if it takes a lot of doing to embarrass today's guilty lot. And, you and I, more than anybody else owe it to the future generation.
I am going to be sending out a petition to the CM, for whatever it is worth.
Is de-notification a cognizable offence per say?
An FIR against the law minister Suresh Kumar has been filed, as reported in to days Bangalore mirror.
“Kumar reacted after the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force registered an FIR on the complaint filed by Dinesh Kallalli, accusing him, former housing minister Krishnaiah Setty and IAS officer V P Baligar of returning 4.2 acres, acquired under the Karnataka Urban Land Ceiling Act to construct houses for slum dwellers at Laggere, to the original owner. “
For the BM report. Click here
Soft corner for RSS
“The minister [Suresh Kumar] , who allegedly helped the family members of an RSS functionary (from whom the government had acquired 16.1 acres of land 31 years ago for the purpose of slum development) in getting back 4.2 acres, had sent a letter (dated July 14, 2010) to the government recommending the return of another 11.3 acres at an alternative site. Subsequently, the BJP government issued an order on September 3, 2010, allotting the land at two different places in the city. BANGALORE MIRROR has accessed copies of the minister’s letter and the government order.”
For the BM Article Click here.
BMTF Powers to be withdrawn?
" In what appears to be another door closing on transparency in the functioning of the BBMP, the government is set to reduce the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) to a toothless body by withdrawing its powers to file Firs’ against erring civic agency officials or members of the council.
The BMTF, headed by ADGP Rajvir Pratap Sharma, had ruffled feathers in the BBMP nest by filing FIRs against more than 60 engineers and revenue officials of the civic agency for ignoring illegal constructions in their zones. "
For to days Bangalore Mirror article click here. [1]
mafia power
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R Ashok is in trouble again as the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) has filed an FIR against him and 21 others. Ashoka has been charged of sanctioning 56 acres of ‘bagar hukum’ land in Bangalore South taluk flouting norms. - - -The FIR has been filed under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 468, 471 of the IPC besides 13(1) and 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Acts.
For the full report in the New Indian Express, click here.
Now, while the charge against Mr Suresh Kumar appears to be that he recommended denotification and return of land acquired from a person (well, RSS member), and not put to use originally intended, the charges against Mr Ashok are of palming of off large tracts of public lands to his cronies (including the current Mayor), flouting all norms.
Mr Suresh Kumar generally has a clean image, which cannot be said of Mr Ashok, to say the least. As such, the filing of an FIR against Mr Suresh Kumar appears to be the handi-work of the lobby out to discredit, and thereafter emasculate, the BMTF, which seems to be working going by the latest reports.
For the first time, since its inception 10 years back, Dr R P Sharma, the officer in charge, carried out the tasks it was instituted for, raising hopes amongst citizens for a check on the haphazrd way the BBMP mafia was allowing the city to proliferate. It will be a sad day if the BMTF is emasculated and the BBMP mafioso take charge once again.
BMTF is, no doubt , a
BMTF is, no doubt , a creature of our men then (1996) in power and governance; hence, with no nature given body and teeth. Even so, having been brought into existence and being only 16 years of age, is it not too soon for it to, as reported in TOI, being rendered toothless.? For obvious resons, the governed is, in all fairness, entitled to expect a sane answer !
For an Update on STP, the ongoing struggle of old apt. complexes with BWSSB, refer the recent Post http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/42