Bengaluru, 21 July

The Karnataka government has constituted a SIT to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged encroachment of government land by Sri Sri Ravishankar’s The Art of Living, its affiliated organisations and other parties in and around Kaggalipura village on Kanakapura Road.

The Special Investigative Team (SIT) will submit its report in three months, according to the 17 July order that was issued by the Revenue Department under the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 and the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011 that was made public on Tuesday.

The SIT was constituted after a survey conducted by the Assistant Director of Land Recordsin October 2025 had “prima facie revealed that the trustees of The Art of Living along with certain other individuals, had systematically, directly and indirectly encroached upon more than 290 acres of government gomala (grazing) land through government lease agreements and arrangements with land grantees”.  

The survey was carried out following directions of the Karnataka High Court and found that the land allegedly under occupation was not being used for the purpose for which it had originally been granted, the order stated.

The land in question is in Kaggalipura, Agara and Bade Manavarthe Kaval, which records show as government grazing lands. The National Green Tribunal had recognised Kaval areas as ecologically sensitive zones requiring protection. The order also cited a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that alleged Ravi Shankar, Sumeru Global Support Solutions Pvt Ltd Are among other respondents, encroached government land, tanks and ‘rajakaluves’ (stormwater drains) near Kaggalipura village.

The State government had submitted a memorandum and map before the High Court indicating alleged unauthorised structures on public land, including rajakaluves. The High Court, while disposing of the PIL on 9 September, 2025, directed the government to initiate action against encroachers.

The SIT, headed by Regional Commissioner Amman Aditya Biswas and Yelahanka Tahsildar Kalimulla as Member-Secretary, will examine government records, verify land grant documents and assess environmental damage through satellite imagery and survey public commons and water bodies. The SIT can issue summons to respondents and recommend legal and administrative measures.

The order added that attempts to conduct surveys were allegedly obstructed by certain local residents and persons associated with the organisation, observing that that norevenue village named “Udayapura” exists in the area despite the alleged encroachers naming it in their deeds.

The Art of Living did not comment at the time of publishing.