Government set to reclaim Abhimaan Studio land over condition violations

Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre on Saturday said that the land granted to late actor T.N. Balakrishna for setting up Abhimaan Studio had violated the conditions of allotment, prompting them to write a letter to the Revenue Department for returning the land to the Forest Department.

Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha after receiving a petition from Dr. Vishnu Sena Samithi regarding the Vishnuvardhan memorial, the Minister explained that the land in question originally was part of the Turahalli State Forest, as the erstwhile Mysore government had declared 62 acres and 20 guntas in Survey No. 26 of Mylasandra village as reserve forest in 1935.

Before the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, came into force, 20 acres of this land was granted to T.N. Balakrishna at the rate of ₹300 per acre for a total of ₹6,000 in 1969. The allotment was conditional and intended solely for the establishment of a film studio.

In 2003, Balakrishna’s children obtained government permission to sell 10 acres of the granted land. At that time, they were directed to invest the profit from the sale into the development of the studio. However, according to the Minister, no development has taken place.

“Instead, there is now an attempt to sell the remaining 10 acres, which constitutes a violation of the conditions. A letter has been sent to the Revenue Department to return this forest land to the Forest Department,” Mr. Khandre said.

Botanical garden

The Minister added that when they reclaim the land, the government has plans to develop a botanical garden there. “Bengaluru has expanded rapidly and needs more lung spaces,” Mr. Khandre said, backing his plans.

He pointed out that on May 15, the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice bench directed that any forest land under the custody of the Revenue Department that had been leased or allotted to private individuals or institutions and was being used for non-forest purposes must be reviewed by a Special Investigation Team.

When asked about land for Dr. Vishnuvardhan’s memorial, Mr. Khandre said that the Chief Minister and the government would take a decision as per rules and procedures.