Day 2: ACB raids unearth many BDA skeletons

By Y, Maheshwara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: A team of 50 Anti-Corruption Bureau sleuths raided the Bangalore Development Authority Head Office on Saturday for the second day running, acting on credible information on rampant corruption in the government body on the allocation of sites, particularly corner sites and alternative sites.

BDA authorities are alleged to have allotted sites worth `150 crore at a layout in East Bengaluru alone, with former corporator of Yediyur ward, N.R. Ramesh telling News Trail that he had lodged a complaint with the ACB against illegal allotment of sites at Arkavathy Layout.

Ramesh said that he had lodged three complaints against BDA authorities, following which ACB sleuths registered first information reports (FIRs) against the BDA.

“I want the ACB officers to probe site allotments made by Deputy Commissioner (Land Acquisition) D.R. Soujanya and Deputy Secretary Chidanand. They have allotted many sites and made a lot of money,’’ alleged Ramesh, who wants ACB to interrogate the data entry operators as well.

A few corrupt BDA authorities have been facilitating allotment of sites at HSR Layout to compensate for sites allotted at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout. All of us know about the price difference of sites at HSR Layout and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout,’’ he said.

ACB authorities have found that BDA authorities have allotted six sites at Arkavathy Layout, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout, and Visvesvaraya Layout to a person not eligible for allotment. The ACB authorities have seized the documents on these sites.

The ACB authorities have found that a BDA official, colluding with middlemen, has allotted a site measuring 1800 sq.ft, worth Rs 1.50 crore to a person without acquiring his land. In addition, the ACB sleuths have seized documents pertaining to an allotment of 1000 sq.ft site, worth Rs 80 lakh at Kengeri Satellite Town. They also found that a BDA officer allotted a site worth Rs 30 lakh at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout to an unauthorised person.

The ACB sleuths have also seized documents of allotting one site to multiple people. They claimed to have seized documents pertaining to illegal allotment of sites worth crores of rupees at different layouts developed by the BDA.

“We are also inquiring into the complaints of delaying allotment sites to the qualified applicants even after submitting all the necessary documents. Since Sunday and Mondays are holidays, we will continue the raid on Tuesday if the need arises,’’ said the ACB in a release.

Though it is not clear whether the raid by AntiCorruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths on Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Head Office will have a logical conclusion, many people, including politicians and social activists, have not only welcomed but also wanted the sleuths to act tough against corrupt BDA officials.

Social activists however said that the latest ACB raid was only to showcase the ACB as being active. “It is a stage-managed raid. The BDA is under Chief Minister SR Bommai. Do you think that raid took place without the Chief Minister’s knowledge or consent? Can we expect a fair probe into the illegal allotment of corner sites? If the ACB succeeds in exposing the BDA, what will happen to the Chief Minister?’’ said a social activist on a condition of anonymity.

Sai Datta, a social activist, said that the latest raid pertains to a number of layouts. “I am expecting the ACB officers to probe the role of middlemen in the allotment of sites,’’ said Sai Datta.

Suryakiran AS, spokesperson of Nadaprabhu Kempe gowda Layout Open Forum, wanted the digitisation of all documents of the BDA and ensure accountability among the BDA authorities. “I want the government to bring BDA functions and responsibilities under Sakala to avoid the delay in providing documents to the applicants,’’ said Suryakiran.

BDA Chairman SR Vishwanath, while speaking with the media in Bengaluru, welcomed the ACB raid on BDA Head Office. “I will also submit documents, if the ACB officers want me to do so. I want to end corruption at the BDA Head Office,’’ Vishwanath said.