Lokayukta Police registers FIR against Karnataka Minister

BANGALORE: In more embarrassment for the ruling BJP in Karnataka, Lokayukta Police today registered an FIR against Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani in connection with alleged irregularities in denotification of lands acquired for industrial purposes.

Eight others, including Nirani's brother H R Nirani, have also been named as accused in the FIR registered following a direction from the Lokayukta court.

The FIR has been registered on a complaint by industrialist Alam Pasha of the Pasha Space International, who accused Nirani of denotifying 20 acres near Devanahalli and 100 acres near Dabaspet near Tumkur, Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Shivakumar told PTI.

Pasha in his complaint before the Lokayukta special court has alleged that Nirani denotified lands acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) violating rules, which the minister has rejected.

Nirani is the second minister in the BJP Ministry led by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda against whom Lokayukta police has registered FIR after Home and Transport Minister R Ashoka, who also faces allegations of securing denotification of government land for personal gain.

The Lokayukta Police action comes on the eve of BJP leader L K Advani's yatra entering the state.

Lokayukta Police filed the FIR against Ashoka, former Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and two others on October 21 on a complaint against them.

Yeddyurappa is already in judicial custody since October 15 following his arrest in two cases relating to irregularities in denotifying land.