One Krishnan, four Radha and a mystery of Rs 20 crore on land in Bengaluru. Bengaluru-News News

Last updated:December 02, 2025, 09:37 IST

What should have been a straightforward inheritance case has turned into a four-way dispute, with four women – all named Radha, claiming to be Krishnan’s legitimate wife.

A land dispute in Hoskote on the outskirts of Bengaluru has turned into an unusual legal maze, with the Karnataka High Court having to sort out competing claims not only of ownership of the property but also marital status. At the center of the case is a 12-acre piece of land, currently worth around Rs 20 crore, and a man named Krishnan who died in 1986.

What should have been a straightforward inheritance case has turned into a four-way dispute, with four women – each named Radha – claiming to be his lawful wife.

Krishnan, a resident of Bandapura village in Hoskote taluk, died about 40 years ago. Under the law, his property would normally pass to his wife and children. In government records his wife’s name is mentioned as Radha. That single name is now at the center of a case marked by conflicting documents, allegations of forgery and delayed claims that emerged decades later.

The First Radha: Records, Revenue Entries and a Late Discovery

Radha is the first to approach the court, claiming that she is Krishnan’s original and legally wedded wife. He claims he has land documents dating back to 1978 and his name was officially recorded in revenue records after Krishnan’s death in 1986.

According to her version, she spent long periods of time in Tamil Nadu after her husband’s death and visited Bengaluru only occasionally. He claims that during one such visit he learned that a private real estate company had taken control of his land, prompting him to challenge the development agreement executed without his consent.

Second Radha: Gift deed and allegations of forgery

The second Radha also claims to be Krishnan’s real wife but there are serious allegations on the authenticity of her documents. His contention is that after Krishnan’s death, he executed a gift deed to transfer the land to his four children.

According to him, his children later entered into an agreement with a Bengaluru-based developer and handed over possession of the land. However, investigators have raised questions about the validity of the gift deed and whether it was made using forged or manipulated records.

Teesri Radha: A will, compensation and more questions

The third Radha has based her claim on a will, which is said to have been prepared in 2022, long after Krishnan’s death. Like the other claimants, he is also accused of presenting fake documents. She says she belongs to the group of legal heirs of Krishnan and has gone a step further by saying that the land was partly handed over to the National Highway Authority of India for the road project.

He claims that he received a compensation of Rs 11 lakh for this surrender. The court is now investigating whether the transaction was legally valid and whether it had the authority to consent to it.

Chauthi Radha: A claim without appearing in court

Fourth Radha has not yet appeared before the court in person. Instead, his claim is presented by a man who argues that the Radha he represents was Krishnan’s real wife and was entitled to the land.

This indirect claim has further complicated the proceedings, with the court describing the situation as a “triangular claim of marital status”, referring to overlapping and contradictory claims made without direct testimony.

Court’s position: There can be only one legal heir

The High Court has clarified that only Krishnan’s legal wife and legal heirs can have the right to own or develop the land. However, determining who is that lawful wife remains the central issue. The court has ordered a detailed investigation of the records and directed the police to investigate the timeline, relationships and authenticity of the document.

Nearly four decades after Krishnan’s death, his land has resurfaced as the subject of a rare inheritance battle. Similar names, delayed claims and disputed paperwork have turned a routine property case into a layered legal puzzle. Until the court determines who Radha, if anyone, is Krishnan’s legally recognized wife, the fate of land worth Rs 20 crore in Hoskote remains unresolved.