Former MLC’s land near Bandipur to be reclaimed

G.Madhusudan to approach High Court

Nearly 30 acres of land near Bandipur purchased over 20 years ago by the former BJP MLC G. Madhusudan and others has now been declared as being acquired illegally by Mysuru Regional Commissioner and the Officer has issued an order to confiscate the property. The land is situated near Mangala village in Gundlupet Taluk.

It was former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) B.G. Hosmath who had complained to Regional Commissioner (RC) M.V. Jayanthi that Madhusudan had bought agricultural land illegally and also violated the Karnataka Land Reforms Act by converting the land for non-agricultural purpose within a year of its purchase. Though Madhusudan had given an undertaking that he would use the land for agricultural purposes, he constructed a resort in violation of the Forest Act, Hosmath’s complaint said.

The origin of the case dates back to 1994 when Madhusudan and others purchased an agricultural land from private parties in Mangala village in violation of law adjacent to Bandipur and set up a resort. The then Chief Wildlife Warden U.T. Alva had also given a no-objection certificate to open a resort.

When a notification on Eco Sensitive Zone around tiger reserves was issued by the government, Hosmath, who was the then Chief Conservator of Forests and Director, Bandipur Project Tiger, discovered that these resorts were posing a threat to the reserve. Hosmath sought the help of then Assistant Commissioner of Kollegal, Basavaraju, and found that not only the land was purchased illegally but also converted for non-agricultural purpose by violating the Karnataka Land Reforms Act.

A case was then filed before the RC seeking eviction of the resort and reclaiming of the land. The case subsequently came up for hearing at the RC’s Court. After hearing the case, in her order issued on Feb. 20, 2017, the RC Jayanthi said that Madhusudan and others (respondents) fabricated documents facilitating the purchase of agricultural land.

The order stated that the permission accorded by the then Nanjangud Assistant Commissioner on December 12, 1994 and January 1, 1995, facilitating the sale of land by a private party to the respondents was in violation of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act.

When the case came up for hearing, Madhusudan sought that the petition be dismissed as the issue was barred by limitation. The RC, however, drew powers from the Karnataka Land Reforms Act 1961, Section 118 A and went about the task of verifying the legality of acquisition.

Meanwhile, Madhusudan moved the Karnataka High Court, which said that a division authority can take a re-look into the issue.

“POLITICAL CONSPIRACY”

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, former MLC G. Madhusudan described the probe and the subsequent order as a political conspiracy  against him.

“The Nanjangud Assistant Commissioner himself has changed the khata of the land in my name. I have purchased the land legally. The Regional Commissioner has acted beyond the purview of her powers and I will move the HC and will present the facts. There is nothing illegal in the purchase or sale of the revenue land and it is not forest land,” he clarified.