Did Yeddy's son, MLC collude to bend rules?

Land(ed) in trouble: The controversial BDA site. Bharathi Shetty.
Pic/Sanjay MD

The site which is being amalgamated with Raghavendra's plot belongs to Bharathi Shetty, member of legislative council, who is close to Yeddyurappa. Both Raghavendra and Bharathi Shetty were allotted high-end BDA sites under the chief minister's discretionary quota last January. The allotment was widely questioned as it was allegedly in violation of norms.

Raghavendra was allotted site no. 1 measuring 50X80 ft at Rajmahal Vilas IInd stage in Survey No. 22/5, while Bharathi Shetty got site no. 2 at the same address. As per documents in possession of MiD DAY, both asked for BDA permission in March for selling off their respective sites.

However, BDA officials rejected the application as an allottee is not allowed to sell the site within the lease period, which is 10 years from the date of allotment. They would have got at least Rs 3 crore per site had they sold them, while they had purchased them for a mere Rs 8 lakh from the BDA.

"They wanted to make a quick buck from the sale of the two sites even though the allotment itself was controversial," said B M Shivakumar, an activist who had unearthed the BDA site scam throughu00a0 Right to Information.

Amalgamation
Even before the BDA rejected the sale proposal, the duo had applied for amalgamation of the sites so that they could build a common structure on the combined site. Sources said the duo went in for amalgamation as they had planned a joint venture for building a commercial residential apartment, which is not allowed under law.

"For an amalgamation to take place, one of the sites has to be sold to the owner of the other site, which is not allowed during the lease period. Hence, the application was rejected," said a BDA official.u00a0

However, this did not deter Raghavendra to go in for a common structure on the combined site and the building is now under construction. While Raghavendra was not available for comment, Bharathi Shetty said the common structure was being built as she had no money and Raghavendra was helping her.

"The decision to build a common structure comes from a mutual understanding. What is wrong in getting help from a friend to build a house?" asked Shetty.

She admitted that their applications for the amalgamation were rejected, but refused to reveal what the building was coming up for.

"I can reside in the house or I can rent it out. It is nobody's business to bother about that. Why is Raghavendra building a house for me? It is not a question for anybody to ask. It isu00a0 our personal issue," she added.

BDa's take

>>H Siddiah, who was the BDA commissioner when the sites were allotted and is now the BBMP commissioner, said, "It is a sensitive issue. Don't make me comment on this. For your queries, my only reply is 'I don't know'." >>However Bharathlal Meena, BDA commissioner, said, "Raghavendra and Bharathi Shetty are building the house legally because the BDA has approved amalgamation of the sites." >>However, he could not furnish details of this when he was reminded of the rules against amalgamation. "Let me tell you, we have not bent the rules. If you want the details, come to me when I am free so that I can show you the files," he said.

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