Raj Park encroached, now haven for illegal activities, say residents

BENGALURU: The popular Dr Rajkumar Park in Padmanabha Nagar in the city has now turned into hotspot for illegal activities as the authorities concerned are not maintaining it. A bust of late actor Dr Rajkumar was installed in the park in his memory in 2006 and it came to be called as Raj Katte or Raj Park.

The earlier name was Kavi katte and Dr Rajkumar’s bust was installed here, his fans were carrying out social work activities here.

The piece of land in R K Layout was a compensatory afforestation site in 2006 and  was changed as a civic amenity site by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike late erected a fencing around the site.

But now, some land encroacher is allegedly creating trouble by creating fake documents of the land. Locals alleged that some influential encroacher has occupied part of the site during Covid by removing the BBMP fencing and closing all four sides with metal sheets. Now, this site has turned into a place for immoral activities, they said.

Om Prakash, said to have owner of the land and went to court against BDA.

Om Prakash, who claims to be the owner of the piece of land, said, “It is wrong allegation.  Site No. 86 was allotted to me in Radha Krishna Layout in 1985. The BDA had even issued khatha and the property is registered. I even have a building plan. If some fans are claiming that it is a BDA site, let them bring proof. Overnight, some land encroachers have installed the bust here and assaulted me when I went to stop their work. Later, I went to the court against BBMP engineer L Srinivas over installation of the bust, but he denied BBMP’s role and the case was finally discharged”.

Raj Katte Manju, said ‘we had been conducted social programmes for last 17 years, nothing is happening here after Covid’.

Raj Katte Manju, an ardent fan of Dr Rajkumar and president of Raj Katte, said, “We used to organise some social activities every year like distribution of books for students, blood donation camp and others from 2006. It is a BDA site. First, we started in the name as Kavi katte, later it was changed as Raj Katte after a year. The proclaimed owner of this land, may have created fake documents and a case is before court now. The Raj Katte was a beautiful place before Covid, but now it became a place for illegal activities”.