BBMP stops house reconstruction

BANGALORE: Nine days after his house was demolished by a gang of hoodlums, paramedic KumaramangalamParashuraman, his wife and son are back on the streets.
On Tuesday, he started work to rebuild his ancestral house on the existing foundation on IV B Main Road, Cauverynagar, DJ Halli but had to stop following a BBMP directive. Work had begun on Monday following a bhoomi puja.
The BBMP intervention was hours after men claiming to be from local MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy came to Kumaramangalam. They urged him to give a written undertaking that the legislator's brother Mahesh was not among those who demolished the property on July 29.
Sources said the men had even brought a letter in Kannada for Kumaramangalam to sign but he refused.
Mahesh and five others were arrested for the illegal demolition of the house and sent to jail. Later, the MLA offered to reconstruct the house and even sent construction material, including truckloads of cement bricks, and sand.
Kumaramangalam was summoned to the local BBMP office. "They're asking for the land documents or get a court clearance," he said. Asked why the civic body was not allowing the rebuilding, BBMP officials threw up their hands.
Jurisdictional assistant executive engineer R Gangadhar told TOI they had stop reconstruction. "An advocate representing Prem Prakash Gupta, who claims to have purchased the property from Kumaramangalam's stepmother, served us a notice on Monday asking us to stop construction. We were warned of legal action if we didn't stop work," he said.
Gangadhar said Kumaramangalam can continue with reconstruction provided he gets a court order or a senior BBMP official intervenes on his behalf. Kumaramangalam's wife Maya said she has pledged her jewellery to raise a loan for rebuilding their house.
Voices
* The MLA's henchmen are approaching the Kumaramangalam couple, asking them for a written statement that the MLA's younger brother, Mahesh alias Mallu, was not present at the place during the demolition. In fact, it was Mahesh who led the demolition.
Kumaramangalam's neighbour (who declined to be named)
* Friends and neighbours are helping us now. It's nine days since our house was demolished and I want to live in my own house. I'm worried for the safety of my husband and son as we have filed a complaint against the MLA's brother.
Maya | Kumaramangalam's wife
* We've provided round-the-clock security to the family. DJ Halli police have been deployed at their site.
Raghavendra H Auradkar | police commissioner
* I'm not sending anyone for a compromise. Being the area legislator, I'll see to it that Kumaramangalam's house will be rebuilt. I'm ready to hold talks with BBMP officials and ask them to permit him to build a house.
Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy | JD(S) MLA of Pulikeshinagar
What happened
Kumaramangalam inherited the house on a 30 ft by 80 ft plot in Cauverynagar. His stepmother sold the house and rhe case went to court which said he can be in possession of the house till the case is settled.
July 28, 2013: DJ Halli police summon Kumaramangalam to the station and ask him to settle the matter with Prem Prakash Gupta, who is claiming ownership of property. Mahesh alias Mallu, brother of MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, seen in inspector's chamber.
July 29: Kumaramangalam and wife Maya leave for work and their 10-year-old son to school. A neighbour calls Kumar around 10am to tell him his house is being demolished. He rushes home to find a gang led by Mahesh leading the demolition. Four policemen in a Hoysala turn up at the spot but don't help Kumarmangalam, who rushes to police commissioner.
July 30: DJ Halli police arrest six persons including Mahesh. MLA claims his brother was in Iskcon when demolition happened. However, his mobile tower records prove Mahesh was at the spot
August 5: Assisted by friends and neighbours, Kumaramangalam begins reconstructing house with the bhoomi pooja. An advocate for Prem Prakash Gupta serves a notice on BBMP, asking it to stop construction. A few men ask Kumarmangalam to give in writing saying Mahesh was not at the spot during demolition
August 6: BBMP summons Kumaramangalam and asks him to furnish land documents. MLA reasserts he'll help him rebuild the house.