Sadananda gowda, wife file bail pleas

Former Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, his wife Datty and another accused Anil appeared before the Lokayukta court on Friday in a complaint filed against them alleging illegal construction on government lands and allotment of sites to them under discretionary quota despite them possessing land.

The three also filed bail applications, which the Judge N K Sudhindra posted to December 27 for filing of objections by the prosecution.

On Dec 12, the Karnataka high court had dismissed criminal petitions filed by Gowda and Datty seeking stay of the proceedings by the Lokayukta court.

The court also refused to grant exemption from personal appearance to the two before the Lokayukta court which on September 25 had issued summons to them and another accused to appear before the court on October 12.

On September 10, the Lokayukta court had taken cognisance of the complaint filed, under Indian Penal Code sections 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 13(1)(c), 13(1)(d) read with section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, alleging illegal construction on government lands and allotment of site to them despite they possessing land.

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

She had pointed out that 'gomala land' is neither available for residential purpose nor for sale and while declaring his assets and liabilities, Gowda who was then an member of Parliament, 'showed the purchase of land but not the illegal building constructed on it'.