Pramesh S Jain & Binish Thomas (Sub-Editor)
I
nvestigating into the KIADB scam,the Enforcement Directorate officials conducted raided at the KIADB officers house and office and seized cash Rs.1.5 crore and Rs.55 lakh deposits from bank accounts.
The search operations were conducted under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA),2002 on Friday at 12 Premises in Bangalore and Dharwad in connection with the fraud committed in land acquisitions undertaken by Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB),Dharwad Zonal office for projects such as Hubli Airport,IIT Dharwad.
Searches were conducted at the seven premises in Bangalore including KIADB Head office,Bangalore and at five premises in Dharwad-Hubballi including KIADB Zonal office,Dharwad.
ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by Vidyagiri Police Station against V D Sajjan (Former Special Land Acquisition Officer of KIADB Dharwad Zonal Office) and others.
The FIR was transferred to CID,Dharwad and charge sheet in respect of the FIR has also been filed by the CID, Dharwad.
It is alleged in the Chargesheet that the V D Sajjan, SLAO, KIADB Dharwad and other officials of KIADB, Dharwad conspired with the land brokers and others and sanctioned an amount of Rs.19.99 Crore (approx.) to seven individuals on the pretext of compensation for land acquisition.
However, these individuals had been paid compensation previously.Thus,causing lose to the government exchequer.
The evidences gathered during the search reveal that a total of Rs.72.55 Crore have been siphoned off by using above modus operandi.
Evidences gathered during the search the above modus was also in use prior to the tenure of the main accused in the case VD Sajjan.
Evidences on the modus operandi used have been gathered in the form of original payment register,final notification issued by KIADB for acquisition of land, RTGS payment forms prepared in the name of fake land owners .
In addition to the above, it was revealed money was being siphoned off through“Malki Payments”that is payments made to trees,structures.in the acquired land.
Searches conducted on Friday and Saturday also resulted in seizure of various incriminating electronic, digital evidences and records and documents.
Searches also resulted in recovery and seizure of Rs. 1.50 Crore in Cash.Searches had also resulted in freezing of bank deposits amounting to Rs.55 Lakh in the name of Main accused in the case.
Further,details of movable,immovable properties acquired by the main accused have been gathered. Further investigation is under progress.
