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BENGALURU: The Lokayukta Police on Wednesday filed FIRs against two former Chief Ministers for criminal conspiracy in denotifying land in R T Nagar.

B S Yeddyurappa and H D Kumaraswamy would face prosecution, besides the latter’s mother-in-law Vimala and her son T S Channappa.

The two leaders are accused of denotifying land at Matadahalli Layout in R T Nagar, now a prime neighbourhood. The FIR also names Rajashekaraiah, who claimed to be the owner of the land and some officials.

The investigation officer has registered the FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act, charging the leaders with dishonesty, abuse of position for illegal means and criminal misconduct, following directions from Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Sonia Narang.

Officials, who put up the file for denotification also face criminal action, sources said. Denotification refers to the government handing over land acquired for a project back to private parties.

The FIR also books them under sections of the Indian Penal Code, dealing with breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy.

The Lokayukta Police action is based on a complaint filed by social activist Jayakumar Hiremath. According to the complaint, then Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa denotified one acre and 11 guntas in Survey 7/1 (b), 7/1(c) and 7/1(d). The land was originally owned by Thimmareddy, Nagappa and Muniswamappa.

The file was put up twice in 2007, on instructions from Kumaraswamy when he was Chief Minister. He had received a representation from Rajashekaraiah, a resident of Rajajinagar, who claimed to be the land owner.

However, the denotification took place only after Yeddyurappa became Chief Minister. He has thus become the first accused. Sources said Sudhir Harisingh, then principal secretary, Urban Development Department, had turned down Rajashekaraiah’s request after it had been forwarded to him by the office of Kumaraswamy, then Chief Minister.

The file came back again, following a second representation. Kumaraswamy asked the joint secretary to put up the file and denotify the land. But the instruction remained pending.

Yeddyurappa allegedly pushed through the denotification, after he became Chief Minister in 2010.

Within 20 days, the land was transferred to Vimala through general power of attorney.

She transferred the title to Channappa for `60 lakh on July 5, 2010, at the sub-registrar’s office in Gandhinagar. The land is now is the possession of Channappa.