The ACB Special Court on Monday asked the department to book a case, register an FIR and investigate the allotment of nine acres of prime government land here estimated to be worth Rs. 200 crore.
The direction assumes significance as the petitioners named the former Chief Minister, K. Rosaiah, G.N. Naidu and 13 others for the allotment which they contended was in violation of norms. The petition was filed by two senior advocates, K. Mohanlal and T. Sriranga Rao. The court asked the Director-General of ACB to file the report before January 28, 2011.
In their petition, the advocates claimed that all those named were punishable under Sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 406, 409 and 420 (read with 120) of the IPC for irregularities. They wanted the court to refer the case to ACB for an in-depth investigation. They said the government had acquired the nine-acre land after paying compensation.
But Mr. Naidu and his associates represented to the government in 2004, 2005 and 2006, seeking the land to be ‘re-conveyed' to them saying they bought it from the original landowner. Failing in these attempts Mr. Naidu again approached the government after Mr. Rosaiah took over as the Chief Minister.
The petitioners said Mr. Rosaiah sought the opinion of the Municipal Administration department, which informed him that it was government land and that the erstwhile Hyderabad Urban Development Authority was running a nursery there. It also pointed out that the land was to be used for the Metro Rail Project.
However, GO.288 was issued on July 15 this year, ‘re-conveying' the land in the name of Mr. Naidu and others.
