The CID investigating into land scams in VUDA on Tuesday arrested five persons.
The arrested persons are VUDA retired administrative officer V. Chiranjeevi Raju, B.Rama Vara Prasad, S. Bhujanga Rao, administrative officer K.L. Narasimha Murthy and retired surveyor D. Punnayya.
The first three were arrested in connection with allotment of 4,114 square yards of land meant for community purpose in Sector II of MVP Colony for construction of an apartment complex allegedly not complying with a Supreme Court judgment.
The VUDA vice-chairman lodged a complaint with the CID based on a preliminary report by CBI into the alleged fraudulent allotment of the land. The CID in its FIR in March named a total of 12 persons, including former vice-chairman V.N. Vishnu and former Estate Officer A Jagadish.
CID sources said though searches were conducted at 11 places, including that of Jagadish, only five could be arrested.
Murthy and Punnayya were held in the case related to allotment of land to the ineligible in Survey Nos.34 and 35 of Rushikonda, it was learnt.
The others were involved in alleged fraudulent allotments at Endada, Madhurawada, Paradesipalem, Ocean View Layout, sources said.
The then vice-chairman, Kona Sasidhar, had sent a report to the State government putting the total amount involved in the land scandals at more than Rs.500 crore.
