The city police on Monday arrested former tehsildar of Bheemili BTV Rama Rao on charges of land grabbing, tampering of land records and corruption.
It may be recalled that Rama Rao disappeared from the city after cases were registered against him. The police said SIT officials have found that Rama Rao has misused his official position and helped private individuals to grab about 150 acres belonging to Mansas Trust in Chippada and Annavaram areas under Bheemili mandal.
The land that now belongs to the Department of Endowments was given away by PVG Raju, father of Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, to the department years ago.
Investigation also revealed that he collected huge amounts of money for issuing pattadar passbooks.
He got 1.5 acres registered in his father-in-law Ponnada Sundara Sambasiva Rao in Annavaram village, which is worth ₹ 50 lakh in the market. He never paid money for the land. Rama Rao also transferred government land in the name of private persons without registration causing revenue loss to the government, as per a press release from the police.
