Bangalore: Bangalore Development Authority Commissioner T. Sham Bhatt seems to have favoured a woman by allotting her sites in lieu of her properties in HSR Layout, though one of the officers from the BDA had marked his dissent on the file related to the transaction.
Though Saraswathi K. is not eligible for an alternative site at the East of NGEF Layout in lieu of sites in HSR Layout 3rd Sector until the inquiry into the forming of layouts on lands earmarked for park is completed, Sham Bhatt seems to have gone ahead and allotted seven sites. When Deccan Chronicle questioned Bhatt, he justified his actions.
Saraswathi purchased two sites in HSR Layout that were allotted to Lakshmidevi, who had lost her land in Jnanabharathi for the formation of a road. Within three days of the sites being allotted to LakshmiÂdevi, SarasÂwathi buys the two 50x80 sqft properties and gets the sale deed. The deal was executed even before the BDA could provide the khata certificate to Lakshmidevi, which is illegal.
But the sites bought by Saraswathi are in an area allotted for parks, and as the BDA Special Task Force is still conducting an inquiry into allotment of sites in land reserved for parks, no alternative sites can be allotted to the affected people.
Despite this rule, the BDA commissioner chose to allot seven sites of 30x40 sqft dimension in East of NGEF Layout in lieu of two 50x80 sqft sites in HSR Layout.
Following an expose, Deccan Chronicle had access to the file related to the allotment of sites. A look at the file revealed that Bhatt has indeed taken an extra effort to allot the seven sites to Saraswathi.
The deputy secretary (DS-4), who was handling the file, has stated that he was not allowed to study the file and mentioned that the sites were allotted following the oral directions of the commissioner.
The STF, which is inquiring into the allotment of sites to Saraswathi, has suspected the involvement of touts and has suggested to the BDA to file a criminal complaint. But Bhatt has ignored the suggestion and gone ahead with the allotment.
On his oral orders to allot the sites, Bhatt told Deccan Chronicle, “I don’t remember it. I will recall the file and comment on it.”
