Lokayukta court summons Sadananda Gowda, wife

The Lokayukta court on Tuesday issued summons to former Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, his wife and another person on a complaint alleging illegal construction on government land and allotment of site to them under discretionary quota when they already possessed land.

Judge N K Sudhindra Rao directed them to appear on October 12.

On September 10, the Lokayukta court had taken cognizance of the private complaint filed under various IPC sections and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In her complaint, Nagalakshmi had alleged that Gowda's wife purchased 7.5 guntas (one gunta is about 1,086 sq ft) of 'gomala' (place set apart for grazing) land in Bangalore North, Jala Hobli, Bagalur village without proper documents in 2008 and subsequently, constructed a two-floor building over 8,700 sq ft without licence or even getting the land converted.

The complainant said at the time of declaration of assets and liabilities, Gowda, then an MP, "showed the purchase of land but not the illegal building constructed on it".

Even after becoming the chief minister, Gowda did not mention about the building that was constructed on the land.

The complainant submitted that no plan was approved or sanctioned or charges paid or construction norms followed for the illegal construction on the land.

She further pointed out that in 1998 when Gowda was an MLA from Puttur, he was given 10 cents of grant-in-aid land by then deputy commissioner, on which he had allegedly illegally constructed another building.

On February 2, 2007, Nagalakshmi alleged Gowda as an MP "got a site allotted in his name by the Bangalore Development Authority under 'G' category by giving a false affidavit to the BDA saying, he did not possess any site or land in the state".

The petitioner prayed for a probe under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC.

Image: Former Karnataka CM Sadananda Gowda