Karnataka High Court Rejects Plea to Quash Criminal Case Against Ex-JD(S) MLA Lingesh in Rs. 750 Crore Land Regularisation Case

Keywords: Karnataka High Court, Lingesh KS, illegal land regularisation, Bagair Hukum Saguvali Samiti, government land, Rs. 750 crore, RTI activist, Hassan district, land irregularities, criminal case.

In a significant ruling, the Karnataka High Court has dismissed a petition filed by former Janata Dal (Secular) MLA Lingesh KS and eight others seeking to quash criminal proceedings against them. The case involves the illegal regularisation of 2,750 acres of government land, valued at Rs. 750 crore, in Belur taluk, Hassan district. Justice M Nagaprasanna delivered the verdict on September 13, 2024, rejecting the plea and allowing the investigation to proceed.

The allegations against Lingesh, who represented the Belur constituency, stem from his involvement in the Bagair Hukum Saguvali Samiti, a committee responsible for regularising unauthorised cultivation on government land. The charges relate to irregularities in granting land to 1,430 beneficiaries between 2016 and 2022. A complaint filed by an RTI activist triggered the investigation, leading a special court in Bengaluru to order the registration of an FIR against Lingesh and several other officials.

During the hearing, the High Court reviewed a 2022 report from the Deputy Commissioner of Hassan, which exposed significant lapses in the land regularisation process. The report revealed that most of the regularisations were based on handwritten ledger extracts, with many original applications and land records missing. Justice Nagaprasanna observed that 99% of the files lacked proper documentation, indicating serious irregularities.

The court concluded that the Bagair Hukum Committee had acted in violation of the law and dismissed the petition, allowing the criminal case to move forward. This decision underscores the court’s commitment to addressing land fraud and ensuring accountability in the management of public resources.

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