Land Grabbing Case: SC Stays Contempt Proceedings Against Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Karnataka High Court’s decision to include Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy as a respondent in ongoing contempt proceedings related to alleged illegal land encroachment in Kethaganahalli village near Bidadi.

A bench led by Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varale issued notice to the NGO Samaj Parivartan Samudaya, which has accused Kumaraswamy and his family members of occupying government land unlawfully.

The court noted that the contempt case is based on an interim 2014 Lokayukta directive that was later closed in 2021.

Senior advocate C A Sundaram, representing Kumaraswamy, argued that the contempt proceedings could not continue based on an interim order that was later withdrawn. He also pointed out that Kumaraswamy was not originally a party to the case and was added only after filing an application as per Supreme Court directions.

The top court allowed the NGO four weeks to respond and temporarily suspended the High Court’s order adding Kumaraswamy as a party.

This controversy began with a Lokayukta report in 2011 exposing alleged land encroachment, followed by an investigation and court proceedings.

Despite earlier state assurances to act, eviction notices were issued to Kumaraswamy before his formal inclusion in the case, prompting the latest legal challenge.