Government land takeover initiative led by Union Minister, BJP representative commences in Karnataka, removing illegal occupants
In the quiet town of Kethaganahalli, near Bidadi in Ramnagar district, a long-standing land dispute has taken a temporary pause. The dispute involves former Chief Minister and Union Minister of Large and Medium Scale Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy, his brother-in-law and Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha member Dr C.N. Manjunath, and their relatives.
The dispute originated decades ago when the land in question was purchased. Recently, the High Court of Karnataka directed a team of officials to mark the disputed lands, including those belonging to Kumaraswamy and Manjunath, in survey numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 79 at Kethaganahalli. The eviction, aimed at addressing encroachments on more than 14 acres of land, was expected to take place in about 8 survey numbers, including those of H.D. Kumaraswamy.
However, the Supreme Court has stepped in, staying the Karnataka High Court's contempt proceedings against Kumaraswamy related to the land dispute case. The Karnataka High Court had initiated contempt proceedings based on non-compliance with an earlier order regarding a land encroachment inquiry, but Kumaraswamy was later removed from the list of parties in these contempt proceedings. The Karnataka Lokayukta formally closed the complaint in March 2021, and the Supreme Court's stay, issued in July 2025, halts further contempt action by the Karnataka High Court against Kumaraswamy.
Despite the Supreme Court's intervention, no new developments or resolutions have been reported since. The case appears to remain in legal limbo, with enforcement actions stalled.
Political dynamics in the related district, such as renaming Ramanagara district and local governance issues, have been ongoing but are unrelated to this land dispute.
In a recent statement, Kumaraswamy, who represents the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, expressed his intention to wage a legal fight against the eviction of lands belonging to him at Kethaganahalli. He also mentioned that he has not received any notice or official communication about the eviction of his lands. Kumaraswamy stated that if the State Government wants to evict an ordinary citizen, a notice must be served at least 15 days in advance as per law.
The Ramnagar Deputy Commissioner, Yeshwanth Gurukar, has stated that he is there to enforce the Court's order. Adequate police personnel have been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents during the eviction process. Once the eviction is completed, the area will be fenced, and a report submitted to the High Court.
Dr. C.N. Manjunath, who represents the Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha seat, has not made any public statements regarding the dispute. The Janata Dal Secular, to which Kumaraswamy belongs, is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Social activist S.R. Hiremath moved the High Court of Karnataka seeking eviction of encroachment of government lands at Kethaganahalli. The High Court has questioned the revenue officials over the delay in eviction of encroachments at Kethaganahalli and issued a stern warning for non-compliance of its order.
The land dispute in Kethaganahalli continues to be a topic of interest, with both parties preparing for potential legal battles. As of now, the dispute remains paused, awaiting further developments in the legal arena.
The land dispute between H.D. Kumaraswamy, Dr C.N. Manjunath, and their relatives, which has been paused temporarily, is a subject of increased interest in the realm of policy-and-legislation, considering the Supreme Court's intervention and ongoing legal proceedings. This dispute, alongside other political dynamics in the Ramnagar district, contributes to the evolving general-news landscape, with crime-and-justice implications due to the contempt proceedings and potential eviction of encroached lands.
