BJP fact-finding team probes Kogilu Layout, flags political nexus and housing eligibility

A BJP fact-finding committee led by senior legislators visited Kogilu Layout to verify residents’ identities, origins and documents, questioning the legality of settlements, alleged money collection by intermediaries, and the government’s housing assurances.

The controversy surrounding the clearing of the illegal Kogilu Layout took a political turn as a BJP fact-finding committee visited the site to independently assess the background of residents, the legality of the layout, and claims linked to government housing promises.

The team was led by MLAs S R Vishwanath and Muniraj, MLC K S Naveen, along with Malavika Avinash and Thammesh Gowda. The delegation said the visit was aimed at establishing the truth behind who lived in the layout, when the settlement emerged, and whether those affected qualify for rehabilitation.

During the visit, the BJP team began collecting extensive details, including:

•    When the Kogilu Layout was formed
•    Who constructed the houses and sheds
•    The origin of the residents and how long they lived there
•    Aadhaar cards and voter ID details of those claiming residence
•    Whether current occupants are original residents or recent arrivals
•    Whether residents meet the criteria for government-provided housing

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The team stated that all findings would be compiled into a detailed report and submitted to state BJP president B Y Vijayendra.

MLA S R Vishwanath interacted directly with residents of Fakir Layout, questioning them on who built the houses. Residents told him that they had constructed the houses themselves, a claim the MLA disputed, asking them not to give false statements.

Vishwanath publicly explained the history of the land, stating that it was officially transferred in 2015, and government land is transferred only when it is vacant. According to him, nearly 95% of the houses were built within the last two years, making them ineligible under several housing norms.

He also claimed to possess bags full of Aadhaar cards, asserting that documents would reveal where people had come from, including Andhra Pradesh and other regions.

The BJP leader alleged that residents paid ₹1 lakh to ₹4 lakh to obtain houses. He showed photographs linking Wasim, described as a local Congress-linked individual close to a minister, to the layout.

According to Vishwanath:

•    Money was collected from residents and agreements were initially issued
•    These agreements were later withdrawn when legal issues arose
•    Despite this, no case has been registered against Wasim so far

He questioned how illegal electricity connections were provided and demanded accountability.

Vishwanath criticised the government for announcing housing without document verification, calling the issue political after tweets by the Kerala Chief Minister and even references from Pakistan, according to him.

He pointed out that under 94C rules, houses can be regularised only if built before 2015, which does not apply to Kogilu Layout. He also alleged violations of the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme, stating that:

•    Applicants must be long-term Bengaluru residents with valid certificates
•    Only around 40–50 houses reportedly have proper documentation
•    Minority housing allocations and subsidies were being misrepresented

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He further argued that government schemes are meant for those without homes, not for people who already own houses.

Raising serious concerns, Vishwanath questioned the presence of West Bengal-registered vehicles at the demolition site and demanded an investigation into:

•    Why such vehicles were present during demolition
•    Who threw chilli powder at police personnel
•    Whether there was organised mobilisation from outside Karnataka

He controversially claimed that West Bengal vehicles often indicate Bangladeshi links, calling for a thorough probe.

The BJP leader announced that the party would approach the courts if houses are allotted to those found ineligible. He warned that if housing is given to illegal occupants, local residents who followed the law would be unfairly treated.

Vishwanath declared:

•    A protest will be held at Kogilu Layout on January 5
•    Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme applicants will join the protest
•    Those who illegally collected money and built houses must be arrested
•    Officials should not be made scapegoats for political decisions

He also referred to the Ballari SP suicide attempt episode, stating that officers were punished to shield those responsible.

Meanwhile, residents objected to the BJP team’s remarks, accusing party leaders of branding everyone as criminals and outsiders. They questioned why residents were being targeted and alleged that they were being harassed for the past three days.