Karnataka

Alam Pasha accuses Nirani of harassment, intimidation

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Industrialist Alam Pasha, who has filed corruption cases against Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani in the Lokayukta Court, has accused the politician of planting defamatory and false information against him in sections of the media.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he produced a copy of a report that appeared in an English daily where he has been referred to as an accused in a forgery case registered at the Halasuru Gate police station based on a complaint by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB).

“Here is a copy of the FIR,” Mr. Pasha said, “Where have I been listed as an accused?” Stating that a select few media outlets had carried the false report that an FIR had been registered against him, he went on to allege that the reporters who had filed the story had been misled by the minister.

While threatening to file a defamation suit against the media outlets that carried the report, he said: “There is no way the [Halasuru Gate] police could have told the reporters that my name was listed as an accused. Then where did they get that information? Who planted this news?”

The FIR filed in the Halasuru Gate police station on April 2, 2013 states that an unidentified person had tampered with an agreement that had been entered into between Mr. Pasha’s company and the KIADB in 2003.

As per the agreement between the two parties, the KIADB would acquire and convert 12 acres of agricultural land owned by Mr. Pasha near Electronics City under the Single Unit Complex programme and then re-allot it to the company for industrial development. For the conversion and other developmental works carried out by the KIADB, Mr. Pasha would have to pay the agency Rs. 10.6 crore.

LOKAYUKTA PROBE

Mr. Pasha paid the development charges and was allotted the land in 2006 following which he spent another Rs. 10 crore to develop the property. However, in 2009, the same land was allotted to another company, allegedly at the instance of Mr. Nirani.

This alleged irregularity is already being heard by the Lokayukta Court on the basis of a complaint by Mr. Pasha. The Lokayukta police, which was asked to investigate the matter, has also found truth in the allegations and submitted a charge sheet against Mr. Nirani.

He is a Software Engineer from Moodbidri currently living in Kuwait. He likes to travel and post interesting things about technology. He is the designer of Kannadigaworld.com. You may follow him on FB at fb.com/alanpaladka

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