AP CID arrests 5 persons in capital assigned lands scam

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) has arrested five persons in connection with the capital city assigned lands scam case. The five arrested were Kolli Sivaram, Gattem Venkatesh, Chikkala Vijaya Saradhi, Bade Anjaneyulu and Kotti Krishna Dorababu.

The CID suspects that illegal transactions had taken place in over 1,100 acres of assigned lands in the capital city. The arrests were carried out with regard to the investigation of 169.27 acres of land from these 1,100 acres.

The CID has charged former minister and TDP leader Narayana of carrying out illegal transactions with regard to these lands in the names of his relatives and acquaintances. A CID press note released on Tuesday claims that former minister used benamis and illegally purchased 89.8 acres of land located in different survey numbers spread across Ananthavaram, Krishnayapalem, Kuragallu, Lingayapalem, Mandhadam, Nekkallu, Navuluru, Rayapudi, Thullur, Uddandarayunipalem and Ventakapalem villages of the capital region.

The press note further says that Narayana and certain others orchestrated a design of creating an insecurity in the minds of gullible peasants who were in possession of assigned lands. "The former Minister had control over granting permissions of town layouts and building permissions. In misuse and abuse of his official position for his personal gains, he along with his family members, conspired with K P V Anjani Kumar, who is a Director of Ramakrishna Housing Pvt Ltd. The bank accounts of Ramakrishna Housing Pvt Ltd were used for transferring the payments to the assigned land holders and the employees of the company actively participated in these transactions," the press note said.