Katta Subramanya Naidu
Katta Subramanya Naidu(born 1960) is an Indian (Karnataka) politician with the Bharatiya Janata Party. In 2008, he won the state legislature elections from Hebbal constituency in the Bangalore area, and was a minister under B. S. Yeddyurappa. He had to resign in 2011 after being arrested on charges of having provided favours to an unknown company after taking a bribe of Rs. 87 crores.[1] In 2012, his property was attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.[2]
According to his election affidavit, Katta is illiterate.[3]
Corruption charges and Arrest
Katta was Industry minister under B. S. Yeddyurappa in August 2011, when he was arrested on charges of taking a bribe of Rs. 87 crores to clear a land sanction to Itasca Software, a firm that had no operations and no office. In the incident dating to 2006, Itasca had deposited 87 crores in the account of a fictitious firm, Indu Builders, with offices at a petrol pump owned by Katta's wife.[4] The amount was later withdrawn by Katta's son Jagadish Katta, a BJP corporator from Bangalore city.[5]
Despite the company Itasca and its application not having been verified at all, Naidu got the land sanction cleared in great haste, within four days, while other applications from industrial houses were deferred.[1]
As soon as the 325 acres of land with the KIADB were cleared, the telecom firm United Telecom from Hyderabad invested Rs 317 crore in Itaska and became its partner in the SEZ.[5]
After the case was registered, Katta Jagadish, a BJP councilor in Bangalore Municipality, was "caught red-handed while attempting to bribe a witness in the case."[6]
Jail term and Resignation
Katta was arrested in August 2011 after being indicted by the Lokayukta, retired Justice Santosh Hegde. Since B. S. Yeddyurappa himself was facing charges related to the massive mining scam of the Reddy brothers, the Bharatiya Janata Party asked Katta to resign from the cabinet.[6] Yeddyurappa himself resigned in the same month.
A cancer patient, Katta was granted bail after two months for treatment.[7] Jagadish Katta and some others obtained bail after four months.[8]
In 2012, the Enforcement Directorate attached the property of Katta, his son, wife and some others associated with Itasca.[2]
Charges of Bribing for votes
Earlier, in 2010, Katta had been accused by opponent CM Ibrahim of bribing the voters with "stacks of currency". [9] The Deccan Herald accused Ibrahim of making a "mockery out of democracy."
Katta's net assets were Rs. 9.23 crores in 2008.[3]
References
- ^ a b N D Shivakumar (Oct 3, 2011). "Katta cleared 325-acre land in four days". Times of India.
- ^ a b "ED files case against Katta for money laundering". The Asian Age. Nov 18, 2012.
- ^ a b "Katta Subramanya Naidu: Criminal & Asset Declaration". National Election Watch. 2008.
- ^ "Lokayukta files FIR against Katta and son". The Hindu. December 3, 2010.
- ^ a b "Lokayukta tightens noose around Katta's family". Times of India. Dec 5, 2010.
- ^ a b B V Shiva Shankar (16 Aug 2011). "Lokayukta police trace transactions". Mid-Day.
- ^ "Katta Subramanya Naidu granted bail". Indian Express. Oct 31, 2011.
- ^ "Katta Subramanya Naidu, son granted bail in Karnataka land scam". DNA India. 12 December 2011.
- ^ "Take money from BJP, but vote for Congress: C M Ibrahim". Deccanherald.com. 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2012-01-01.