Bengaluru: The high court has refused to quash an investigation against Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officer Sudha and her husband Stroiny Joseph Pias in a disproportionate assets case.Justice M Nagaprasanna rejected Sudha’s contention that her prosecution required prior approval from the authorities concerned. “It is for the petitioner to come out clean in a full-fledged trial,” the judge said.He said a full-fledged trail is required as the case is “shrouded with huge corruption” and there is prima facie material available on the strength of documents collected during the investigation.The case was registered against the couple in 2020 following a private complaint from activist TJ Abraham who claimed that there was adequate material indicating that Sudha, the land acquisition officer in Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and in charge of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout, Sir M Vishweshwaraiah Layout, HRBR Layout, and Jnanabharathi Layout, was receiving illegal gratification from property owners.This was purportedly in exchange for passing awards for the acquired lands or approving relevant files, and for that, she was collecting Rs 5 lakh per acre to grant awards or pass necessary orders.The magistrate referred the complaint to Lokayukta. During the investigation, the petitioner approached the high court, questioning the magistrate’s order. An interim order of stay was granted on Aug 8, 2024, which remains in effect.The records showed that Sudha owned properties in Bengaluru city, Doddaballapur in Bengaluru North district, and farmland at Kundapura and Brahmavara in Udupi district. Lokayukta claimed that as against the market value of Rs 11.7 crore, the registration value of these properties was shown at Rs 1.8 crore, with Rs 9.3 crore paid in cash in which Rs 2.9 crore was paid cash for a villa at Kodigehalli and another Rs 1.6 cr for an apartment in Shivanahalli, Yalahabka Hobli (both in Bengaluru).
