In a significant crackdown on illegal land acquisition, the Karnataka Police have arrested a man for attempting to illegally seize over 500 acres of precious forest land in Chikkamagaluru district. The arrest follows a formal police complaint by forest officials and highlights a larger alleged scam involving forged documents and court orders.
The Arrest and the Alleged Scam
The accused has been identified as M B Nemanna Gowda, also known as M B Manmatha. He was taken into custody on Monday by the Mudigere police after a case was registered against him. The police action was initiated based on complaints filed by the Assistant Conservator of Forests on November 28 and later by the local tahsildar.
The First Information Report (FIR) charges Gowda under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for forgery and impersonation, along with violations of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964. The case was formally registered at the Mudigere police station on December 13.
Modus Operandi: Court Orders Based on Fake Documents
The core of the alleged fraud involves using fabricated documents to obtain favorable orders from the Karnataka High Court. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre revealed that Gowda had filed a writ petition and secured an order to transfer documents for a total of 532 acres of land into his name. This included 482 acres of reserved forest land, allegedly allotted under the Inam Abolition Act.
The court had directed the transfer to be completed within three months. Shockingly, the state government remained unaware of these legal proceedings until the very last moment. By the time officials were alerted, the crucial 90-day period to file an appeal had nearly lapsed, putting the valuable land at serious risk.
Minister Calls for Probe into Official Collusion
This incident has prompted Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre to write to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding a thorough investigation by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The minister suspects the involvement of officials and government lawyers in facilitating such large-scale land grabs.
In his letter, Khandre expressed deep concern, stating, "It appears that some officials and government lawyers are directly and indirectly helping those who are grabbing government and forest land worth thousands of crores of rupees." He also pointed to the delayed FIR registration by the Mudigere Police Circle Inspector as a cause for suspicion.
The estimated value of the land involved in this and related grab attempts, including reserved forest land in B M Kaval in south Bengaluru, is staggering, potentially exceeding ₹25,000 crore. The minister noted that Nemanna Gowda has a history of trying to claim government land using false documents.
Aftermath and Ongoing Actions
Following the discovery of the attempted land grab, the Forest Department has swiftly moved to file an appeal against the High Court order. The arrest of Gowda marks a crucial first step in what is likely to be a complex legal and investigative battle.
This case sheds light on the sophisticated methods used to illegally acquire protected forest and government land, raising serious questions about procedural safeguards and potential insider collusion. The state government's push for a high-level probe indicates the political will to address this systemic issue and protect Karnataka's natural resources from such predatory schemes.
