Bangalore:
Karnataka High Court granted a one week stay to proceedings against City Mayor Venkatesh Murthy and his wife in a case filed by Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) against them for alleged illegal allotment of "Bagair Hukum" (government) land to them.
Justice H N Nagamohan Das stayed the proceedings in the case filed by BMTF.
In 2004, the couple were allotted eight acres of land in Somanahalli village in Uttarahalli hobli by present Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka who headed "Bagair Hukum Land Grant Committee" as MLA of Padmabhanagar assembly constituency.
In June this year, the Sub Divisional Magistrate cancelled the allotment of land owing to false declaration that they were landless labourers. Murthy's wife also did not disclose that they had been married for almost 14 years.
She said she was the daughter of one Kenchappa and had not applied the land for herself, but for her grandmother who was into farming.
Last month BMTF police registered a case against the couple and served notices on Asokha to appear before them in person to clarify as to why they had given false declaration.
A notice was also served on Ashoka by BMTF on Sep 3.