Karnataka High Court Issues Notice to Lokayukta Police Over Kharge Trust Land Case
The Karnataka High Court has issued a notice to the Lokayukta police regarding a petition over their alleged failure to act on a complaint. The complaint concerns the allotment of government land by state agencies to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, an organization associated with the family of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
The order was passed during a hearing on a petition filed by complainant Vijayraghava Marathe. Marathe is challenging the proceedings initiated by the Special Court for Elected Representatives under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The petitioner approached the High Court to question the manner in which the Special Court has been proceeding with his complaint after the Lokayukta police allegedly failed to take action.
Details of the Land Allotment Allegations
The original complaint names several individuals, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Radhakrishna, Radhabai Kharge, Rahul Kharge, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, and Minister M.B. Patil. According to the complaint, the Siddhartha Vihar Trust was allegedly granted benefits in the allotment of government land on the basis of being a Scheduled Caste-run trust.
The complainant alleges that the trust received a 50 per cent concession during the allotment process. Specifically, the complaint raises questions about the allotment of land within the Aerospace Park at Devanahalli, pointing out that the trust lacked prior experience in aerospace or research activities. Additionally, the complaint highlights the allotment of two acres of Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) land in the BTM Layout area, which was allegedly provided at a 50 per cent subsidy.
According to the petitioner, these land allotments resulted in undue benefits being extended to the trust, raising concerns over whether prescribed rules and procedures were followed by the authorities. The complaint also notes that the land allotted in the BTM Layout was subsequently returned after allegations regarding the transaction began to emerge. However, these allegations remain subject to investigation and legal adjudication.
Procedural Challenges in the Special Court
Before approaching the courts, the complainant had initially sought an investigation from the Lokayukta police. When the agency allegedly failed to take action, the petitioner approached the Special Court for Elected Representatives, requesting it to direct a Lokayukta investigation.
The Special Court, however, did not order a probe by the Lokayukta police. It reportedly took the view that the affidavit submitted alongside the complaint was not in the proper form. Instead of ordering an investigation, the Special Court decided to examine the complaint directly under Section 223 of the BNSS.
The petitioner challenged this decision before the High Court, with his counsel arguing that the Special Court should have directed the Lokayukta police to conduct a formal investigation. The counsel contended that the alleged irregularities in the allotment of government land by the BDA and the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) require a thorough probe by a competent agency.
High Court Seeks Lokayukta Response
Following these submissions, the Karnataka High Court ordered the issuance of a notice to the Lokayukta police. The notice requires the investigating agency to provide a response regarding the allegations and detail what action, if any, has been taken on the complainant's initial filing.
The High Court's decision to issue a notice does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing against any of the individuals named in the complaint. The allegations will undergo examination through the appropriate legal channels. The case remains significant as it involves land allotments by major state agencies to a trust linked to prominent political figures. The matter will be taken up again once the Lokayukta police submit their response.
