The Seshadripuram police have registered a case against a 44-year-old tout and others in connection with a multi-crore Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) site scam involving an alleged collusion with some BDA officials.

The accused has been identified as H. Nagaraj, who allegedly posed as a BDA employee and fraudulently obtained BDA sites meant exclusively for Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ employees of the authority.

According to the complaint lodged by Hanumantharaya B., Deputy Superintendent of Police, BDA Vigilance Wing, large-scale irregularities were detected during an internal vigilance inquiry into allotments made under employee quota categories in various BDA layouts, including Laggere and M.K. 2nd Stage layouts.

The investigation reportedly revealed that several sites reserved for eligible BDA employees were illegally allotted to ineligible private individuals by falsely representing them as Group ‘C’ or Group ‘D’ staff members. The vigilance officials alleged that fake records and manipulated documents were used to facilitate the illegal allotments.

During the inquiry, the officials sought verification from the BDA Establishment (EST) section concerned regarding the employment status of accused H. Nagaraj. The department reportedly confirmed that Nagaraj was never an employee of the BDA.

Despite this, Nagaraj allegedly misrepresented himself as a BDA employee and, on June 18, 2009, fraudulently secured allotment of Site No. 04 measuring approximately 9.14 x 12.19 metres in M.K.S. 2nd Stage Layout through fabricated records and false declarations.

The complaint further stated that the fraud could not have been executed without the active support, internal assistance, and possible collusion of certain officials and staff members within the BDA. The officials suspected that multiple ineligible beneficiaries may have obtained sites using similar fraudulent methods over several years.

The alleged scam was said to have occurred from June 2009 and continued until recently, causing substantial financial loss to the BDA involving public property worth several crores of rupees.

Based on the complaint, the police have registered an FIR against H. Nagaraj and others under Sections 34, 120B, 465, 419, 409, 420, and 468 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, cheating, impersonation, forgery, criminal breach of trust, and related offences.

The police said further investigation is under way to identify other beneficiaries, officials, and middlemen involved in the scam.

Meanwhile, BDA Chairman N.A. Haris, appreciating the police wing investigations, and warned brokers to be beware. In his statement on social media, Mr. Haris claimed that the days of land mafia operations inside the BDA are over.

According to him, the prime accused, Nagaraj, has been arrested. An FIR has also been filed against one Lakshminarayan for allegedly attempting to encroach upon nearly ₹160 crore worth of prime BDA land in Kothanur. He is absconding, and special teams are actively searching for him.