Public complaints on e-Khata

Mysuru: In the wake of hundreds of public complaints alleging delays in the issuance of e-Khata documents and various permits, Lokayukta Police yesterday conducted a surprise inspection at the Mysuru City Corporation’s (MCC) Zonal Offices, scrutinising property records and registers as part of an investigation into the alleged irregularities in property documentation and issuance.

The action follows complaints that officials were demanding bribes from property owners to issue e-Khata documents and complete related procedures.

Acting on these allegations, Lokayukta officials had in July last year raided multiple civic offices, including MCC Zones 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9, besides the Town Panchayat offices in Srirampura, Bogadi and Rammanahalli, and seized several records for examination.

During last evening’s inspection at the Zone-2 office in Jayanagar, Lokayukta Dy.SP H.M. Shailendra and team reviewed files and registers related to e-Khata applications and various permits.

They also gathered information from staff and officials to assess whether pending applications were being processed transparently and in accordance with rules.

Questions on file clearance, delays

The inspection was aimed at verifying whether files identified during last year’s raids had been cleared or continued to remain pending.

Lokayukta officers examined registers, files and other documents and sought explanations from officials regarding long-pending cases. Complaints of delays in clearing files at MCC Zonal offices and Local Bodies have continued to surface, prompting the latest review.

Officials said, files considered suspicious during the earlier raids remain under close watch. Staff were instructed to report any irregularities immediately and were warned against withholding information.

The inspection lasted from 3 pm to 8 pm, during which officers carried out an extensive review of records. Similar inspections would be conducted in other offices in the coming days to ensure greater transparency and accountability in property record management.

Inspection, not raid: SP

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Lokayukta Superintendent of Police T.J. Udesh clarified that the exercise was a follow-up inspection and not a raid.

“We had raided this office about seven to eight months ago after receiving complaints of irregularities in property documentation and permit issuance. The purpose of today’s inspection was to verify whether the work is now being handled transparently,” he said.

Udesh said, no fresh complaints had been received, but the team wanted to ensure that files found pending during the earlier raid had been disposed of. “We are preparing a report on the inspection, which will be submitted to the Lokayukta,” he added.