Bhatkal: An alleged attempt to illegally appropriate government land using forged documents has come to light in Bhatkal, raising questions about possible lapses or involvement within the local revenue administration.

According to sources, unidentified individuals allegedly sought to misuse provisions linked to decades-old land reform records by creating new claimants, altering historical documents and fabricating orders purportedly issued by the erstwhile Bhatkal Land Tribunal. The forged records were allegedly used to generate Form No. 10 (land grant certificates) and hand-written land records in an effort to secure ownership of government land.

At least two such cases — one in Yelvadikavur village and another within Bhatkal town limits — have reportedly been detected so far. Local sources fear that similar irregularities may have occurred in other cases as well.

The alleged fraud is believed to involve manipulation of records dating back 40 to 50 years. Allegations have emerged that some employees and officials attached to the Bhatkal Tahsildar's office may have played a role in facilitating the process. Claims have also surfaced regarding large-scale financial transactions linked to the alleged land scam, though no official confirmation has been issued.

The suspected forgery reportedly came to light after discrepancies were noticed in documents claimed to have been issued decades ago. Sources said the documents contained computer-generated Kannada text in a font style that was not in use during the period mentioned in the records, raising doubts about their authenticity.

In one of the cases under scrutiny, forged signatures were allegedly affixed in the names of former members and office-bearers associated with the Land Tribunal, including then Special Assistant Commissioner U. Koraga Naik and other tribunal members. Sources familiar with the matter suspect that fabricated approval documents were subsequently used to support land grant applications.

The alleged perpetrators are also said to have overlooked the fact that land records in Karnataka were computerised after 2000, making it easier for officials to identify inconsistencies between the purportedly old documents and existing revenue records.

Further allegations suggest that some revenue personnel may have uploaded and approved forged documents within the land records management system, thereby lending apparent legitimacy to the fabricated records. The claims have heightened public concern over the integrity of land administration processes in the region.

According to sources, the irregularities were detected after a senior revenue officer who was recently posted to Bhatkal examined an application and noticed discrepancies between the submitted documents and archival records. The officer reportedly refused to approve the land grant and is said to have warned of legal action.

Amid reports of attempts to suppress the matter, local residents and activists have demanded an immediate investigation by the district administration. They have urged the Deputy Commissioner to order a comprehensive probe, identify those responsible for creating forged documents and initiate criminal proceedings against all individuals involved.

As of now, no official clarification has been issued by the district administration or the Bhatkal Tahsildar's office regarding the alleged irregularities.