Date:14/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/14/stories/2007011402240500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Gram panchayat member seeks anticipatory bail

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: A local Congress leader and sitting member of the Araga Gram Panchayat in Bangalore Rural District, accused of allegedly having encroached on land belonging to the wife of a former Chief Secretary of the State, has moved the Karnataka High Court for anticipatory bail.

Opposing the bail petition, State Public Prosecutor (SPP) S. Dore Raju submitted that the accused had not only attempted to encroach on the land belonging to the wife of the former Chief Secretary, T.P. Issar, but that he had also cut several Nilgiri trees on the land and broken the fence surrounding the one acre and 20 guntas of land at B.M. Kaval village, Kengeri hobli, in Bangalore South taluk.

The petitioner, V. Venkataraju, claimed to be in rightful possession of one acre and 20 guntas of land at B.M. Kaval village. On September 27, 2006, he alleged that Vijayalakshmi Issar, wife of Mr. T.P. Issar, had claimed the land belonged to her.

In her complaint before the Talgatapura police, Ms. Vijayalakshmi said she was the owner of the land.The police had registered cases against Venkataraju and arrested him. He said the Fast Track Court (3), Bangalore Rural District, had rejected his plea for release on bail.