Ready to face inquiry on land-grab allegations: Revenue Minister

Denying allegations of land-grab by his family, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has volunteered to face any inquiry.

Making a statement in the Legislative Assembly here on Friday, Mr. Byre Gowda appealed to the Speaker to order a probe by a suitable agency after consulting Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Minister.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy had alleged that the Revenue Minister grabbed government land at Garudanapalya in Kolar district.

From Mysuru rulers

The Minister said that the land originally belonged to Mysore rulers. His grandfather, Chowde Gowda, had got the land for a lease of 10 years from the trust in the name of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Trust in 1953. However, even as the lease was in effect, the original owners sold the land to Habeebulla Khan in 1959. Chowde Gowda questioned the sale of land and finally it was resolved through a compromise.

“Since 1953, our family has been in possession of 256 acres of land at Garudanapalya, a village that belonged to one family. The land consists of two tanks, which are intact. Not even an inch of tank is encroached upon. When I traced the land records, at one stage a portion of 20 acres of land had been mentioned as a tank, which is against the nature of the land and the survey records. And, we got the entire land through an absolute sale deed, and there was no question of encroaching on government land,” he stated, adding his grandfather got the land before he was even born.

Due to strict stance

Further, he opined that the allegations against him may be due to his strict stance with regard to his department.

“People who were affected by my action might be behind the allegations. However, let there be an inquiry by whichever agency, and I will accept the outcome,” he said.

The Minister also invited the Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition to visit the land and verify.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok suggested a suitable inquiry into the allegation so that the matter could be clarified.