Encroachment': notice issued to former Minister

Staff Reporter, The Hindu
High courtround-up PIL petition seeks reclamation of the land
BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday ordered issue of notices to Varthur MLA and former Minister A. Krishnappa on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking action against the alleged encroachment of government land in the State and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the Rs. 150-crore scam in K.R. Puram and Mahadevapura CMCs. The petitioner, H. Basavaraj, claimed that he was a former general secretary (labour cell) KPCC AW Forum, Bangalore.
In his petition, Mr. Basavaraj prayed for a direction to the State Government to take remedial and practical action to reclaim government lands which had been encroached upon by bureaucrats, individuals and politicians in the State.
CBI probe
He also sought a CBI investigation into the Rs. 150-crore scam in K.R. Puram and Mahadevapura CMCs.
Mr. Basavaraj alleged that Mr. Krishnappa had amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income and sought a probe into it.
He alleged that land grabbing had been going on in the area under the guidance of Mr. Krishnappa.
A Division Bench comprising Justice B. Padmaraj and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer said it was of the view that "notices in the matter has to be ordered to the respondents as valuable property is alleged to have been booked out to certain vested individuals."
Apart from Mr. Krishnappa, it ordered issue of notices to the State Government, Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban, and others and adjourned further hearing on the matter by four weeks.