K'taka home minister gets clean chit in land case

Karnataka Home Minister R Ashok, who was in the dock for his alleged role in a land case, can now heave a sigh of relief. On Friday, the Lokayukta police gave him a clean chit. In a report submitted by the police to the Lokayukta court, it is stated that he had no role to play in the case.

The report, which was submitted to the court, however stated that there was a violation established under Section 79 of the Land Acquisition Act. However, it did not appear that Ashok was responsible. It would now be the job of the sub-registrar to find out who had violated the norms in the case.

A first information report was filed by the Lokayukta police based on a complaint against Ashok. It was alleged that he had directed the Bangalore Development Authority to stop the acquisition of a plot of land and later he purchased it which itself amounted to an illegality. A private complaint was filed before the Lokayukta after this came to light.