The Karnataka High Court has refused to halt criminal proceedings in an alleged government land encroachment case involving former Congress minister MC Chowdareddy and former Chintamani Municipal Commissioner BH Narayanappa, while raising sharp questions over why two alleged beneficiaries—including a sitting Congress MLA—were not named as accused.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, while dismissing petitions seeking to quash the case, observed that the investigation records prima facie indicate that Chowdareddy’s sons, MC Balaji and MC Sudhakar, benefited from the alleged encroachment. The Court remarked that their absence from the list of accused warranted serious scrutiny.
According to the Court, if individuals who allegedly gained from the disputed government land remain outside the scope of the criminal investigation, it raises significant concerns about the fairness and completeness of the probe.
The case, originally registered in 2017 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), will now proceed, with the investigating agency directed to complete its inquiry within six months.
Refusing to interfere at the investigation stage, the Court underscored that allegations of land grabbing involving public officials carry consequences beyond the disputed property itself. It observed that when individuals holding political influence are accused of illegally benefiting from public land, it undermines confidence in governance and public institutions. The Court said that preventing an investigation at this stage would effectively block efforts to uncover the truth before the facts are fully examined.
Allegations Surround Government Land
The dispute concerns 1 acre and 18 guntas of government land in Survey No. 11 of Kannampalli village in Chintamani taluk. Revenue records classified the land as government property in 1965-66.
The prosecution alleges that after MC Chowdareddy became an MLA from Chintamani in 1989, he sought conversion of his family’s adjoining agricultural lands in Survey Nos. 12 and 13 for non-agricultural purposes. During this process, authorities claim that the adjacent government land in Survey No. 11 was unlawfully absorbed into the family’s holdings.
Investigators further allege that the disputed land was subsequently divided between Chowdareddy’s sons, MC Balaji and MC Sudhakar, who currently represents Chintamani as a Congress MLA.
The case also alleges that Balaji later executed an unregistered General Power of Attorney in favour of the Government Employees House Building Co-operative Society, facilitating the transfer of plots carved out from the disputed land.
Complaint Led to Criminal Investigation
The matter surfaced after a councillor from the Chintamani Municipal Council lodged a complaint highlighting the alleged encroachment. During subsequent proceedings initiated by the Tahsildar, Chowdareddy and Balaji reportedly asserted rights over the land by claiming adverse possession.
Following another complaint, the ACB carried out a preliminary inquiry before registering a formal criminal case against the accused.
In its order, the High Court observed that the allegations suggest the government land was treated as though it were private family property. The Court noted that residential sites were allegedly created, sold, and transferred, with municipal records issued in favour of third parties, effectively transforming government land into privately held real estate.
The Bench also declined to quash proceedings against former municipal commissioner BH Narayanappa, holding that the investigation should continue without judicial interference at this preliminary stage.
