Bengaluru, 18 March

The State Revenue Department on Tuesday initiated measures to clear the encroachment of 14.04 acres of land in Ramanagara district in Karnataka, allegedly by the family of Union Minister Kumaraswamy, official sources said.

Kumaraswamy, who holds steel and heavy industries' portfolio, called the government action an act of "vendetta politics" and said he would fight it out legally.

"I purchased this property 40 years ago. I will fight this case within the framework of law. There is no need for anyone to worry," he said.

Following the High Court’s direction to reclaim government land from encroachment, the Revenue Department, in coordination with district authorities and the police department, deployed earthmovers at Kumaraswamy’s farmhouse at Kethaganahalli at Bidadi in Ramanagara district, which is adjacent to Bengaluru, and started the drive.

Speaking to reporters, Deputy Commissioner of Ramanagara district, Yashwanth Gurukar said, "We are working here to reclaim the land based on the High Court direction about encroachment in some survey numbers here (Kethaganahalli)."

He said the encroachment is more than 14 acres, whose details would be submitted to the court.

In January this year, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the encroachment of government land in Kethaganahalli.

The SIT found that 14.04 acres of land in survey numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 79 had been encroached upon, based on a joint survey conducted by the Revenue Department and the Survey Settlement Department, sources said.

The High Court which is hearing the case, took a strong view of the failure to implement its eviction order and issued directions to Revenue Department officials to submit a status report. It then posted the matter for hearing on 19 March.