Karnataka Govt Clears 14 Acres Of 'Encroachment' By Kumaraswamy’s Family; He Calls It ‘Vendetta Politics’

During a hearing on Monday, Karnataka High Court took a strong view of the failure to implement its eviction order.

Reacting to the encroachment and Kumaraswamy’s allegation, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said let the union minister furnish documents proving ownership of the land. 

Source : X

The state Revenue Department on Tuesday initiated measures to clear the encroachment of 14.04 acres of land in Ramanagara district in Karnataka, allegedly by the family of Union Minister Kumaraswamy, official sources said. Kumaraswamy, who holds steel and heavy industries' portfolio, called the government action an act of "vendetta politics" and said he would fight it out legally.

The union minister said he had purchased the parcel of land 40 years ago and more than 100 inquiries have taken place on it.

Following the High Court’s direction to reclaim government land from encroachment, the Revenue Department, in coordination with district authorities and the police department, deployed earthmovers at Kumaraswamy’s farmhouse at Kethaganahalli at Bidadi in Ramanagara district, which is adjacent to Bengaluru, and started the drive.

Speaking to reporters, Deputy Commissioner of Ramanagara district, Yashwanth Gurukar said, "We are working here to reclaim the land based on the High Court direction about encroachment in some survey numbers here (Kethaganahalli)." He said the encroachment is more than 14 acres, whose details would be submitted to the court.

In January this year, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the encroachment of government land in Kethaganahalli.

The SIT found that 14.04 acres of land in survey numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 79 had been encroached upon, based on a joint survey conducted by the Revenue Department and the Survey Settlement Department, sources said.

The encroachment case is currently pending before the High Court.

During a hearing on Monday, the court took a strong view of the failure to implement its eviction order.

The matter has been posted for hearing on March 19, with directions to Revenue Department officials to submit a status report.

Meanwhile, R Devaraju, on behalf of Kumaraswamy, wrote to the district authorities on March 15, requesting them to recover the land if any encroachment was found and to identify his land that was ‘lost’ in the same village.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru before flying to New Delhi, Kumaraswamy said, "I purchased this property 40 years ago. I will fight this case within the framework of law. There is no need for anyone to worry." He appealed to the reporters to find out the truth and report.

"I have not done anything illegal. I am the one who has never done such thing. I have been the chief minister twice. Today, the state government is harassing me, ignoring the loot that happened in Bengaluru. Whatever is happening today on the land I purchased 40 years ago, I will answer them within the legal framework," the union minister said.

When asked whether it was an act of "vendetta politics", the JD(S) second-in-command said, "Let them (Congress government) do. There is God. Till now, no one has issued me any notice. Law says that at least the person against whom there is a complaint should be given time for a week or a fortnight, but I have not received any communication or notice." Kumaraswamy said the SIT was formed by the state government for the first time in the country for such a purpose.

"They (Congress) will get a different type of response for the way they carried out their action today. Just wait and see," he said.

When asked about whether he was targeted, he said, "Who else other than me is the target? I am the only target in this state. They would have lived very easily if I was not there." Kumaraswamy said he is carefully monitoring the developments taking place in the state.

"There must have been an investigation 100 times on the land I purchased 40 years ago. If this is happening to me then you can imagine what will be happening to the ordinary citizens," he told reporters.

Reacting to the encroachment and Kumaraswamy’s allegation, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said let the union minister furnish documents proving ownership of the land. 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)