Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities have a history of issuing fake khata certificates for revenue properties, with some officials being caught and suspended or dismissed. Now, BBMP revenue department officials have demonstrated that even a public road, existing for over 40 years, is not safe from being falsely converted into private property by corrupt revenue officers in Bommanahalli Zone.
A public road at Garvebhavipalya near Kudlu Gate has been encroached upon by a landlord who claims it as his property. It is concerning to find that BBMP revenue officers have issued a khata certificate for this road, which was established over 40 years ago during the layout formation, indicating possible collusion with the encroacher.
The issue involves the encroachment of a 30-feet road at Munireddy Layout near Kudlu Gate. Residential sites in this layout were sold in 1987, with all sale deeds acknowledging the road’s existence. The land, identified as Survey No. 46/5, was originally sold to Muni Reddy by Krishna Reddy and three families in 1982.
However, on December 30, 2004, Krishna Reddy appealed to the Assistant Commissioner (AC) Court, claiming ownership of the land. The AC Court dismissed the appeal, stating it was not maintainable due to the 21-year delay in filing and failure to provide a convincing reason for the delay. Consequently, Krishna Reddy and others have no legal claim to the property.
However, Krishna Reddy executed a gift deed for the property to his wife, Shakuntala Devi, on December 19, 2023. This gift comes nearly 20 years after his appeal was dismissed by the AC Court, during which he had waited to transfer the property (road) to his wife.
Based on a fraudulent gift deed, BBMP revenue officers issued a B khata for a 30 x 120 feet (3600 sqft) road in April 2024, bypassing proper procedures. When contacted, BBMP Revenue Inspector Abdul Rehaman Badebai explained that he signed the documents following the advice of Assistant Revenue Officer Manjunath, who had an interest in the property deal. “I did not visit the site. I did not prepare the report. Manjunath brought a file to me and asked me to sign on it and I merely followed his advice,’’ said Abdul Rehaman Badebai.
He mentioned that he had been transferred to Konanakunte. “It is better to contact Manjunath. There is a provision to cancel the B khata. I will request Manjunath to cancel the B khata,’’ he said.
He couldn’t explain why he signed the document without verifying the site. Residents are now calling for strict action against the BBMP revenue officer and inspector for issuing a fake khata, which led to the closure of a public road. They believe these officers have damaged the BBMP’s reputation and are demanding their suspension.
Krishna Reddy, with the BBMP-issued B khata, requested Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) engineers to remove electric poles on the road. The engineers complied without consulting the public, allowing Reddy to convert the road into private property. He then closed the road with a wall, damaging underground drainage (UGD) pipes and causing sewage to flood two or three nearby buildings, one of which resembles a sewage treatment plant (STP).
The unhygienic conditions have become a health hazard for residents of the nearby PG accommodations. “The bad odour emanating from the stagnated sewage has become a nuisance and a health hazard,’’ said Bhumika, one of the students residing at the nearby PG.
