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Bengaluru: Halasuru Gate police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 31 individuals over alleged violations of the SARFAESI Act and the issuance of illegal e-Khatas under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). The case was filed on November 9 following a formal complaint by GBA Special Commissioner (Revenue) Munish Moudgil. Basavaraj Magi, Assistant Commissioner and Revenue Officer in charge of KR Puram, has been named as the primary accused in the matter. Officials are accused of colluding with builders and developers to issue e-Khatas for properties and plots that did not meet mandatory regulatory eligibility.
The police action comes at a sensitive time for the civic administration, as the Greater Bengaluru Officers and Employees Union was preparing to stage a protest against the suspension of two revenue officials. These officials include Basavaraj Magi and Lokamatha DS, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Kengeri division. Munish Moudgil had previously recommended the suspension of both officers. With criminal proceedings now initiated against Magi and 30 others, the administrative dispute within the authority has intensified further.
Allegations of Rule Violations in Bank E-Khata Issuance
According to the complaint, provisions for issuing e-Khatas to banks under the SARFAESI Act are primarily meant for taking possession of properties tied to long-pending loan defaults. Under this legal framework, financial institutions are permitted to act against defaulting borrowers by following prescribed procedures. However, the complaint alleges that certain officials misused this provision by joining hands with builders and developers to generate e-Khatas for properties that fell entirely outside the scope of the act.
The complainant stated that several of these properties were situated on revenue land and classified under the B-Khata category. Despite lacking proper legal clearance, officials allegedly bypassed land classification rules and eligibility criteria to issue e-Khatas for these sites. The complaint describes these approvals as irregular and directly contrary to established civic norms.
Probe Sought Into 98 Allegedly Illegal Accounts
Serious allegations have been leveled against Basavaraj Magi regarding his direct involvement in the approvals. According to a senior revenue official, Magi allegedly facilitated the issuance of 98 irregular e-Khatas in the Horamavu and KR Puram areas between January 29, 2026, and June 19, 2026. The complaint has sought a comprehensive investigation into every single account approved during this period.
While Magi is listed as accused number one among the 31 individuals named in the FIR, investigators still need to determine the exact nature of the irregularities across all 98 properties. Police will examine the specific roles played by various officials, builders, and intermediaries at different stages of the approval process.
Case Registered Under Multiple BNS Sections
Halasuru Gate police have booked the accused under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 61(2), 336(2), 336(3), 340, and 318(4). These sections deal with offenses related to criminal conspiracy, forgery, the use of forged documents as genuine, and cheating. Investigators will now scrutinize the official records, property documents, and digital trails linked to the issuance of the disputed e-Khatas.
Meanwhile, clarity is still awaited on whether a separate FIR has been registered in connection with Kengeri division Assistant Commissioner Lokamatha DS. A senior revenue official noted that while 31 names are included in the FIR involving Magi, details regarding any police action against Lokamatha remain unconfirmed.
As the union continues its opposition to the suspensions, the police investigation is expected to establish whether the rules were deliberately bypassed for unlawful gain or if procedural lapses occurred. Verification of land records and account documents remains central to confirming the charges against the accused.
