- Attempt to transfer 22 sites developed and owned by former BJP MLC Siddaraju blocked
- Alert DTP operator halts GPA fraud at Vijayanagar Sub-Registrar’s office
Mysore/Mysuru: Thanks to the alertness of a DTP operator, an attempt to fraudulently transfer a property comprising 22 sites, estimated to be worth Rs. 22 crore, was foiled at the office of the Sub-Registrar (West) at Vijayanagar Second Stage yesterday.
The sites form part of Chamundi Sooru Nagar, a private layout developed by former BJP MLC Siddaraju at Kergalli in Mysuru.
The accused had attempted to register a General Power of Attorney (GPA) that would have authorised the holder to sell the sites, pay property tax, transfer khata and carry out other related transactions. However, the DTP operator at Counter No. 1 grew suspicious after noticing a discrepancy in the age details between the property owner and the proposed GPA holder.
When questioned, the person claimed that the GPA was being executed in the name of his youngest brother, stating that he was the 13th child born to their parents.
The DTP operator, who was familiar with Siddaraju as he had visited the office on several occasions earlier for registration of other sites, immediately alerted her higher officials and put the GPA registration process on hold.
Sensing that the fraud had been exposed, the accused escaped from the office along with the documents and his accomplices.
Subsequently, the staff contacted Siddaraju to verify whether he knew the persons who had attempted to register the GPA. Shocked by the development, Siddaraju informed the officials that he was unaware of them and requested that the registration be withheld.
Staff members rushed to trace the suspects, but they had already fled the premises.
Official complaint lodged
Yesterday (Dec. 24), Siddaraju visited the Sub-Registrar’s office and submitted a written complaint along with all relevant documents related to the layout and the sites.
He also requested Sub-Registrar N. Srikanth to provide a copy of photograph of the person who had come to register the GPA. A complaint was also lodged at the Vijayanagar Police Station seeking action against those involved in the fraudulent attempt.
Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, Siddaraju said he had also filed a complaint with the District Registrar, Department of Stamps and Registration. He added that he would be meeting City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar later in the day to bring the matter to her notice.
Background
A private layout named Chamundi Sooru Nagar, spread across various survey numbers at Jayapura hobli in Kergalli, was developed by Siddaraju on 28 acres of land.
While most of the sites have already been allotted and registered in favour of buyers, 22 sites of different dimensions are still retained by Siddaraju.
According to sources, the accused had obtained information about the sites through documents from the concerned authority and attempted to get a GPA registered in the name of his youngest brother.
Fraudulent documents were prepared using a fake PAN card, Aadhaar card and forged Siddaraju’s signatures, which were submitted to the Sub-Registrar’s office. Earlier, an e-khata was also procured through the Bogadi Town Panchayat to facilitate the registration.
On Tuesday (Dec. 23), the accused and his accomplice visited the office of the Sub-Registrar (West) at Vijayanagar 2nd Stage to register the GPA, when the fraud came to light.
The DTP operator, suspecting impersonation, informed higher officials and halted the registration process, following which the accused fled the office.
As Siddaraju was out of station on Dec. 23, he visited the office the next day and formally lodged complaints with both the Sub-Registrar and the jurisdictional Vijayanagar Police.
No CCTV cameras
Despite hundreds of people visiting the Sub-Registrar’s office every day and property transactions involving crores of rupees being carried out, CCTV cameras have not yet been installed on the premises.
Officials said, the absence of surveillance hampers efforts to track fraudsters and prevent such attempts.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Sub-Registrar N. Srikanth said, he has written to the District Registrar, Department of Stamps and Registration, seeking permission to lodge a complaint with the jurisdictional Police to initiate action against the accused.
Responding to queries about CCTV cameras, he said that cameras would be installed in the office at the earliest.
This post was published on December 25, 2025 6:45 pm