Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 4: A complaint filed in Suratkal police station alleges that a fake trust had been formed relating to Padre Sri Dhoomavathi Daivasthana near here, and the compensation amount relating to acquisition of land standing in the name of Daivasthana was fraudulently collected from National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The court of the first additional senior civil judge in the city has ordered the station house officer of Suratkal to investigate the matter.

The complaint has named the alleged fraudsters as Mukka Bhandaramane Sudesh Karkera (51), Babita (44), Vajrakshi (58) and Padre Mahabala Rai.

Land measuring 7.26 cents under survey No. 296/1D2 in Mukka within Suratkal, which pertained to the said Daivasthana, was acquired by NHAI for widening of the highway. A sum of Rs 19,61,453 had been sanctioned as compensation towards this land, it is said. It is said that the first three persons stated above created an entity named Sri Dhoomavathi Daiva Bhadaramane Family Trust, although Karkera, Babita, and Vajrakshi were not related to the administration of the shrine.

The said trust stands registered in the office of the sub-registrar at Mulky, and the trust members had provided fake copies of documents as demanded by the land acquisition officer. A sum of Rs 17,65,308 paid through cheque No. 797482 of Canara Bank Valencia branch in the city due to the Daivasthana was encashed by the members of the trust. The notice issued by the land acquisition officer to the trust was received under the signature of Mahabala Rai who signed it by claiming to be a trustee of the said Daivasthana, the complaint filed by the managing committee of the Daivasthana avers.

The managing committee of the Daivasthana, after coming to know of the above fraudulent transaction, approached the district first additional senior civil judge's court by producing all the necessary documents and claiming payment of the said to sum to it. Accordingly, the court has instructed the police to investigate the matter. Station house officer of Suratkal, M A Nataraj, has registered a case and taken up investigation.