Journalism of Courage
Presents
Co-presented by
Associate Sponsor
Premium
Karnataka suspends 5 sub-registrars over fraudulent registration of 1,322 properties worth Rs 250 crore
The Karnataka Government’s e-khata system, introduced with considerable publicity as a digital safeguard, faces serious questions in the wake of the property registration fraud.
The complaint alleged that the officials forged property documents and circumvented system safeguards to complete registrations without legitimate e-khatas. (Image generated using AI)
The Karnataka Government has suspended five sub-registrars for their alleged involvement in a fraud linked to the digital e-khata system, where 1,332 properties worth over Rs 250 crore were fraudulently registered from December 6, 2024, to December 5, 2025.
The Department of Stamps and Registrations suspended Ravi Sankana Gouda, N Satish Kumar, Sridhar (first division assistant-in-charge sub-registrar), Girish Chandra, and R Prabhavathi for allegedly misusing the Kaveri 2.0 portal, failing to import mandatory e-khata details from e-swathu software, and illegally processing sale deeds.
The e-khata system, introduced with considerable publicity as a digital safeguard against property fraud, now faces serious questions. The fraud emerged after the executive director of the Centre for Smart Governance (CSG), which provides technology solutions to government departments, filed a complaint.
The North CEN police subsequently registered a cybercrime case against unknown individuals under the Information Technology Act 2000 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Officials said that perpetrators manipulated the Kaveri 2.0 portal, which has required valid e-khata documentation for property registration since 2024. They reportedly accessed the Unified Land Management System (ULMS), containing comprehensive land records, and hacked the software to falsely display properties as having valid e-khata under the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, enabling illegal registrations.
The complaint alleged that the officials forged property documents and circumvented system safeguards to complete registrations without legitimate e-khatas.
Sources indicated that several sub-registrar offices with jurisdiction over rural gram panchayat properties were compromised, with most illegal registrations traced to these locations. Technical analysis reportedly identified software bypasses in multiple offices, including at Banaswadi, Ulsoor, and Varthur—all near Bengaluru.
Advertisement
Loading Taboola...
Top Stories
Live Blog
Advertisement