ED directs sub-registrar offices in Mysuru not to allow sale of 142 seized properties

MYSURU: Days after seizing 142 immovable properties in Mysuru, having a market value of Rs 300 crore, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has written to all the four sub-registrar offices in Mysuru not to register and fresh sale of the seized properties till further notice.

The ED’s Bangalore Zonal Office attached these properties under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. As per the ED, these properties are registered in the name of various individuals who are working as real estate businessmen and agents.

The ED is investigating allotment of sites to land losers by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) under the 50:50 ratio scheme. The fresh directive of the ED spell trouble for the beneficiaries of the scheme.

Meanwhile, the ED had also sought documents related to allotment of 631 other sites by MUDA under the 50:50 ratio fromthe commissioner and is likely to seize them too in the coming week. The central agency has also sough documents related to allotment of 550 other sites from MUDA.

Most of these sites are believed to be benami allotments, mostly belonging to political leaders and influential officials. The ED initiated the investigation on the basis of a First Information Report registered by the Mysuru Lokayukta police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others.

It is alleged that Siddaramaiah used his political influence to get compensation of 14 sites in the name of his wife BM Parvathi in lieu of three acres 16 guntas of land acquired by MUDA. The land was originally acquired by MUDA for Rs 3,24,700. The compensation in the form of 14 sites at a posh locality is worth Rs. 56 Crore (approx). Parvathi later wrote to MUDA offering to surrender the sites.