Bengaluru: 3 surveyors booked for irregularities in 103 land records
The Bengaluru police have registered a case against three government surveyors after an internal inquiry found alleged irregularities in the processing of 103 land survey applications at the K.R. Puram Assistant Director of Land Records (ADLR) office.
The accused have been identified as Shivashankar, Arun Kumar, and Manjunath, who were serving as surveyors at the same office. The case was registered at the Halasur Gate Police Station based on a complaint from the department.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the department received allegations against Manjunath, prompting officials to examine his login and transaction history on Bhoomi, the online land records management system. The inquiry was initiated after the Deputy Director of Land Records directed officials to compile details of complaints received against surveyors, as well as cases uploaded without sketches by government and licensed surveyors across Bengaluru Urban district over the previous eight months.
The internal report alleged that the transactions showed irregularities in the processing of applications, and the movement of files indicated the possible involvement of multiple persons. It also stated that some applications had been processed without following the required procedures.
The Bhoomi Monitoring Cell, which examined the 103 cases, flagged several issues, including an alleged loss to the government in the form of fees that should have been collected. The department estimated the loss at ₹77,075 in these cases. Officials also expressed concern that similar irregularities could have occurred in other districts and called for a detailed examination of all such transactions.
The complainant has sought to ascertain the role of the officials and operators involved in processing the applications. The FIR has been filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, though specific charges were not detailed in the initial report.
This development highlights ongoing efforts to improve accountability in the land records system, which is critical for property owners and citizens. The Bhoomi platform, launched to digitise land records in Karnataka, has been a key tool for transparency, but instances of misuse underline the need for continuous oversight.
Further investigation is underway, and the accused surveyors have not yet made a public statement. The police are expected to examine the digital trails and question all individuals linked to the processing of the flagged applications.
