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Minister grabbed land in Varthur: BSP

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore July 5. The Bahujan Samaj Party has demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged misappropriation of government funds and encroachment of property by the Minister for Social Welfare, A. Krishnappa, in the limits of the Varthur Assembly constituency, which he represents.

The State Organising Secretaries of the BSP, J. Krishnappa and Mavalli Shankar, told presspersons here on Friday that the development works in the Varthur constituency had come to a halt in the past 10 years because of funds being allegedly siphoned off by the minister and his aides. Precious government lands, including gomal lands and tank beds, had been encroached upon and converted into housing layouts without the permission of the authorities concerned, they said.

Referring to the recent raids at the offices of the Mahadevapura and Krishnarajapuram city municipal councils by the Lokayukta, the BSP leaders said the same situation prevailed in all the CMCs of not only the Varthur constituency but the entire Bangalore Urban District. (Mr. A. Krishnappa is the Minister in charge of Bangalore Urban District.)

During the raids on the offices of two CMCs, the Lokayukta noticed misappropriation of around Rs. 85 crore. Of that, Rs. 3.50 crore had been earmarked for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Mr. Krishnappa and Mr. Shankar said the BSP would start an agitation against the minister if appropriate investigation was not ordered. The BSP would submit representations to the President and the Governor. "There is a need for a CBI probe since the Lokayukta has its own limitations while investigating a case in which a minister is involved. We have already witnessed the V.S. Koujalgi case, wherein the Lokayukta stated that the matter did not come under its purview."

The BSP leaders alleged the minister, who was earlier an employee of the Indian Telephone Industries and was dependant on his salary, had now amassed huge wealth. They said a large share of his property was registered under fictitious names. Reports had it that Mr. Krishnappa enjoyed a good rapport with the Congress High Command since he had allegedly given a share of ill-gotten wealth to his bosses in the Congress. "It is obvious that the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, is helpless in the matter. Mr. Krishnappa successfully indulged in corrupt practices when he was Animal Husbandry Minister and Sugar Minister," they alleged.

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