Bengaluru: The state government has banned handwritten khatas to prevent property frauds in Bengaluru.
According to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister HK Patil, strict directions had been issued to sub-registrars to desist from registering properties if they have handwritten khatas.

In the latest case, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department detected several cases of handwritten khatas in four gram panchayats of Bengaluru North taluk and suspended 13 officials. Criminal cases had been filed against officials and panchayat presidents.

 Patil told media persons that the police of Doddaballapur, Bagalur and Soladevanahalli stations had started investigation. A former executive officer of the Bengaluru North taluk panchayat had been suspended.

In some cases, real estate agents and middlemen cheated property buyers by producing handwritten khatas. Generally, they cite power cuts and non-functional computers at gram panchayats as reasons for issuing handwritten khatas. In some cases, developers had formed layouts and converted agricultural lands without obtaining permission from authorities, Patil said.