BENGALURU: In a relief to Industries and Tourism Minister R.V. Deshpande, the Karnataka High Court on Friday quashed Lokayukta proceedings against him with regard to alleged denotification in connection with IT corridor in Varthur hobli.
The private complaint filed by Vasudeva Reddy, an agriculturalist, in 2013 alleged that in 2001 the state government had acquired 500 acres of land in Varthur hobli for the purpose of IT corridor project. It further alleges that out of 500 acres, the state finally notified only 434 acres and the remaining 66 acres of the land were dropped from the acquisition process.
The complainant had alleged that Mr Deshpande, during his tenure as Industries minister in 2004, illegally joined hands with some businessmen and denotified land by misusing his official position to allot land in excess of their requirement to certain companies. He had sought an inquiry under the Prevention of Corruption Act as public servants had allegedly abused their position.
However, the high court quashed the proceedings following the submission made before it that when the acquisition of land in question was challenged before the High Court and the Supreme Court, the courts has upheld the state government’s decision.
