Even as the land dealings of the Karnataka government's chief secretary Arvind Jadhav have been blowing up amid allegations of record tampering and illegal acquisitions, several more land purchases by the secretary have come under the scanner.
The scandal over the past few days has focused on 8.30 acres of government land registered in his mother's name at Ramanayakanahalli village in Sarjapur Hobli of Anekal Taluk on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Media reports, based on an RTI filings, have accused the secretary of manipulating government records to various clearances.
Naturally, the media has been following up on several other land purchases by Jadhav, all of which seem to indicate that his mother is a pretty impressive real estate developer.
Read more: Did Karnataka's chief secretary tamper with government records?
As per newly discovered land records, Tarabai, Arvindh Jadhav’s mother, had purchased 16 acres in Hegganahalli Village, Kandanahalli Hobli, Devanahalli Taluk, Bengaluru rural district in the year 1986 and converted this agricultural land for commercial purpose in 1996-1997. This property was purchased before the purchase of 8.30 acres, which also in under Tarabai's name.
With permission being taken from the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA), this land is now being utilised for the construction of a residential layout.
Interestingly, when faced with allegations two days ago with regards to the 8.30 acres in Ramanayakanahalli, Arvind Jadhav had said that his mother had sold her land in Hegganahalli and purchased the property in Ramanayakanahalli, Anekal Taluk.
Read more: Karnataka CM seeks report on alleged land grab by chief secretary
But in the records, the Hegganahalli land is still in the name of Tarabai, Jadhav's mother.
It was to verify the secretary's clarification that the files were pursued in the first place. But the explanation only seems to have pushed Jadhav deeper into the woods.
"Arvind Jadhav is not my relative. I have ordered the District Collector to submit a comprehensive report. We'll take action based on the report," Kagodu Timmappa, Minister for Revenue Department, told the media in a statement.
