By South First Desk,South First Deskpublish
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‘Active involvement of GT Dinesh Kumar in MUDA case’: ED
Evidence regarding obtaining bribe for making illegal allotments in the form of cash, bank transfer, movable/immovable properties have been gathered during the course of the investigation, the ED said.
Synopsis: In a statement issued on Thursday, ED said, “ED investigation revealed a large scale scam in allotment of MUDA sites by flouting various statutes and government orders/ guidelines and by other fraudulent means. The role of ex-MUDA commissioner GT Dinesh Kumar has emerged as instrumental in illegal allotment of compensation sites to ineligible entities/individuals.”
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday, 18 September said it found active involvement of GT Dinesh Kumar in the comprehensive money laundering scheme perpetrated at MUDA during his tenure as Commissioner.
Kumar is currently in ED custody for nine days after his arrest on Wednesday, 17 September. ED initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Lokayuktha Police on the allegations of large scale illegal allotment of MUDA sites.
The arrest came after ED conducted extensive searches at two of his residential premises in connection with the MUDA illegal sites allocation scam. He was produced before a designated special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Bengaluru on Wednesday, where he was remanded to nine days of ED custody.
Kumar took over as MUDA commissioner in 2022. When several allegations of irregularities over site allotment under the 50:50 ratio scheme came into light, the state abruptly transferred him, albeit without a post.
Also Read: ED attaches 92 MUDA sites worth Rs 100 crore registered under benami names
ED investigation
In a statement issued on Thursday, ED said, “ED investigation revealed a large scale scam in allotment of MUDA sites by flouting various statutes and government orders/ guidelines and by other fraudulent means. The role of ex-MUDA commissioner GT Dinesh Kumar has emerged as instrumental in illegal allotment of compensation sites to ineligible entities/individuals.”
Evidence regarding obtaining bribe for making illegal allotments in the form of cash, bank transfer, movable/immovable properties have been gathered during the course of the investigation, the ED said.
Probe also revealed that the modus operandi for making illegal allotment involved identification of ineligible beneficiaries and making allotment using fake or incomplete documents in direct violation of government orders and also backdating of allotment letters in some cases.
“The gratification received for making these illegal allotments was routed through a co-operative society and bank accounts of the relatives and associates of GT Dinesh Kumar, who has played key role in the allotment process. The gratification, thus received, was further used to purchase some of these illegally allotted MUDA sites in the name of relatives of GT Dinesh Kumar,” ED said.
Further investigation is under way.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Anisha Reddy)
