GTD welcomes probe into complaint against him in 50:50 scheme

Senior JD(S) leader and MLA representing Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency in Mysuru G.T. Deve Gowda on Saturday welcomed a Lokayukta probe against him in connection to the complaint lodged by activist Snehamayi Krishna about his alleged role in the contentious 50:50 scheme by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

“Let the Lokayukta probe the matter at the earliest and take action against wrongdoers,” Mr. Gowda said while responding to reporters’ queries on the complaint lodged by the activist.

Earlier, Mr. Krishna told reporters that his complaint to the Lokayukta pertains to the purchase of two sites of dimension 50×80 feet each in Vijaynagar 4th phase in Mysuru by Mr. Gowda’s daughter and son-in-law from landloser Chowdaiah, who had been allotted more than 44,000 sq ft. of land as compensation by the MUDA under its 50:50 ratio scheme.

Mr. Krishna contended that the allotment of compensatory sites to Mr. Chowdaiah by the MUDA was illegal as the land in question was under litigation. He alleged that Mr. Gowda had used his influence to allot the compensatory sites of MUDA to Mr. Chowdaiah despite the litigation and received the two sites as “kickback” for the deal.

However, Mr. Gowda said his daughter-in-law and son-in-law had purchased the two sites allotted to the landloser by paying “white money”. He said a landloser was entitled to his share of compensatory sites by the MUDA if his land had been acquired.

“I inquired with my daughter and son-in-law and learnt from them that they had paid a costly sum of white money for the two sites,” Mr. Gowda said.

When asked about the allegation that he had exerted his “influence” on the MUDA to allot compensatory sites to Mr. Chowdaiah and received the two sites as “kickbacks”, Mr. Gowda said the Lokayukta probe will reveal if he had exerted any influence and received kickbacks as alleged by the complainant.

Mr. Gowda also had a word of praise for the activist Snehamayi Krishna and said the activist was doing a good job. “He was working for ensuring punishment to politicians and officials for their wrongdoing. Even if they don’t do wrong, they should be careful,” Mr. Gowda said while wishing Mr. Krishna success in his endeavour.