Uttar Pradesh "farmer" with Rs 8, 500 income per month purchased ore-rich land for Rs 1.80 crore in Bellary!

A UP farmer with Rs 8, 500 income per month purchased ore-rich land for Rs 1.80 crore in Bellary!

By Shivakumar G Malagi

Bellary, July 17, 2012:

 All illegalities committed for exploiting rich iron ore wealth in this district during the period of Reddy ministers are getting exposed one after another. Latest exposure is of a fake farmer from Bharuva village in Sohawal taluka in Faizabad district in Uttar Pradesh.

Claiming himself as a farmer in UP; Mr Kesari Prasad Yadav had purchased 14.59 acres of ore-rich land in Ramghad village in Sandur taluk of district for consideration of Rs 1.80 crore on August 2009 producing an uncertified income certificate issued by Tahasildhar of Sahawal taluka in UP showing monthly income of Rs 8,500 per month and aggregated annual income of Rs 1.02 lakh to fit himself within the provisions of Karnataka Land Reforms Act 1964. The section 79B of the Act prohibits a person having non-agriculture income of more than two-lakhs from holding an agriculture land.

“How a person having a monthly income of Rs 8,500 can afford to purchase a property of Rs 1.80 crore is unexplained”, said deputy commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas in his order cancelling the purchase of land by Mr Yadav. 

In spite of providing numerous opportunities, Mr Yadava had remained absent before the court of Deputy Commissioner nor his advocates provided proof of his existence nor have filed any written arguments.  

In his order, DC Biswas stated, “This clearly proves that money used in the purchase of land is from non-agriculture source only. Further, to be able to have Rs 1.80 core disposable income, Mr Yadav had to have an annual income of Rs 2 lakh for 90 years, assuming his entire income is savings. Alternatively, given his stated annual income of Rs 1.02 lakh, he would have to live for 176.47 years to be able to pay the sum of Rs 1.80 crore”. As per the records, Yadav is 55 year old.

Highly placed sources said that Mr Yadav is a bodyguard to a Uttarkhand based energy industrialist who made friendship with Bellary-based powerful politician during latter’s visit to Haridwar and expressed his willingness to invest in mining and wanted Bellary politician’s support for a big price. After financial loss in energy sector, Uttarkhan industrialist had ventured into mining and had appointed his bodyguard Mr Yadav as his front man in Bellary to extract iron ore illegally from this Ramghad land with the support of Bellary strongman. 

As per the century-old records of Sandur Princely state, a bunglow and garden situated in 14.59 acre land and no survey numbers assigned to land. However, said property rights have been confirmed in the name of Good Shepherd Convent. 

But, here, the Good Shepherd Convent had not declared having possession of this agriculture land and obtained permission to retain ownership as it was mandatory for a non-agriculture person or institution after commencement of the Amended Act of Land Reforms from April 1974. Hence, here, Lady Superior, Good Shepherd Convent held these lands in violation of Land Reforms Act and has sold it Mr Yadav in violation of the same Act.

Hence, DC Biswas has set aside the land transactions and ordered to take possession of the land forthwith and make changes in the name of Government of Karnataka.