Bengaluru: The storm of land de-notification has now hit the doors of Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande, with Lokayukta ordering a probe against him, one of the top Congress leaders of the state.

The ombudsman institution also ordered the investigations against former CM, B S Yeddyurappa. After hearing the case filed by Vasudeva Reddi over irregularities committed in acquiring lands for the construction of IT corridor, Justice Bopayya of the Lokayukta court ordered investigations against the duo, it is gathered.

The justice stipulated a deadline of March end, for the police to submit the reports of the investigations against R V Deshpande and Yeddi. “Prima facie, irregularities are visible and leaving aside 70 acres of land from the acquisition process raises questions”, the court observed. On the basis of this observation, Justice Bopayya, ordered the  probe.

In a complaint filed with the Lokayukta it said R V Deshpande during his stint as minister in 2004 allegedly diverted lands to some businessmen. The complaint further stated, that the same business tycoon was benefitted by means of land by the former CM Yeddyurappa in 2006.

In 2001, as many as 500 acres of land had been earmarked for the acquisition but only 430 acres were acquired. The complaint alleged this was the handy work of the two tall state leaders.