In Bhatkal, a recent discovery has exposed an alleged attempt to grab government land using forged land records, sparking concerns over possible lapses within the local revenue administration. On January 1, 2024, sources revealed that unidentified individuals had created new claimants, altered historical documents, and fabricated orders purportedly issued by the erstwhile Bhatkal Land Tribunal, in a bid to misuse provisions linked to decades-old land reform records. The forgery involved generating Form No. 10 land grant certificates and hand-written land records to secure ownership of government land, with at least two cases detected so far – one in Yelvadikavur village and another within Bhatkal town limits. Local sources fear similar irregularities may have occurred in other cases. The alleged fraud, believed to involve manipulation of 40 to 50-year-old records, has raised questions about the involvement of some employees and officials attached to the Bhatkal Tahsildar’s office. Claims have also surfaced regarding large-scale financial transactions linked to the alleged land scam. The suspected forgery came to light after discrepancies were noticed in documents claimed to have been issued decades ago, with computer-generated Kannada text in a font style not in use during the period mentioned in the records, raising doubts about their authenticity. Forged signatures were allegedly affixed in the names of former members and office-bearers associated with the Land Tribunal, including then Special Assistant Commissioner U. Koraga Naik. The alleged perpetrators overlooked that land records in Karnataka were computerised after 2000, making it easier for officials to identify inconsistencies. Further allegations suggest some revenue personnel may have uploaded and approved forged documents within the land records management system. The claims have heightened public concern over the integrity of land administration processes in the region. A senior revenue officer recently posted to Bhatkal detected the irregularities after examining an application and noticing discrepancies between the submitted documents and archival records. The officer reportedly refused to approve the land grant and warned of legal action. Local residents and activists have demanded an immediate investigation by the district administration, urging the Deputy Commissioner to order a comprehensive probe and initiate criminal proceedings against all individuals involved.
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📰 Source: Sahil Online