Is K’taka Minister Krishna Byregowda Guilty of Corruption and Land Encroachment?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Serious allegations against Minister Krishna Byregowda of corruption and land encroachment.
- BJP demands resignation following the release of supporting documents.
- Protests erupt in Bengaluru, highlighting public outrage.
- Opposition leader calls for a thorough investigation.
- Byregowda denies accusations, claiming political motivation.
Belagavi, Dec 17 (NationPress) The Karnataka BJP has made serious allegations against Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda, accusing him of corruption and land encroachment, demanding his resignation. Supporting documents and videos were shared by the party to back their claims.
BJP supporters demonstrated in the Byatarayanapura Assembly constituency in Bengaluru, asserting that Minister Byregowda unlawfully seized 21 acres of land in Kolar district, which originally comprised a lake and a burial site.
It is important to note that Minister Byregowda represents the Byatarayanapura Assembly segment, while Kolar is his home district.
Authorities detained BJP activists for protesting without authorization, transporting them via buses to an undisclosed site.
In a media briefing in Belagavi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, called for the immediate resignation of Minister Byregowda, accusing him of corruption and of illegally acquiring cemetery and tank land.
Narayanaswamy presented documents during the press conference, which allegedly showed that the minister manipulated records to transfer one acre of cemetery land (Survey No. 47) and 20 acres and 16 guntas of tank land (Survey No. 46) in Garudanapalya village of Narsapura hobli in Kolar district into his ownership.
The estimated value of this land is around Rs 100–120 crore, he stated.
According to Narayanaswamy, “This represents a blatant case of corruption and abuse of power. The minister’s conduct is a disgrace and an affront to the people of Karnataka. He should resign immediately and submit to an investigation.”
He questioned how Byregowda was able to transfer land that is legally protected as cemetery and tank land into his name.
The opposition leader alleged that the minister’s late father, C. Byregowda, had falsified documents to transfer the land into their names.
Narayanaswamy insisted that the government must investigate this incident and recover the land, warning that “the people of Karnataka will not stand for this corruption and misuse of authority.”
He also declared that the opposition would pursue legal action should the minister fail to resign promptly. “We will take this matter to court and ensure justice is served,” he stated.
The allegations have ignited political outrage across the state, raising concerns about the government's resolve to combat corruption and safeguard public land.
In response, Minister Krishna Byregowda has denied all accusations, asserting that the claims are politically motivated and expressing his readiness to cooperate with any investigation.