Several middle-class and upper middle-class people, who had invested their lifetime savings in lands to meet the educational or marriage expenses of their children, or to have a secure retired life in their old age, are finding themselves in the lurch now.
M.G. Rao, A. Ravinder Reddy and some others purchased about 80 acres of land at Ameenpur (survey No. 343 in 2005/06). The land, allotted to some freedom fighters, was allegedly sold to these persons after they met former MLA T. Jayaprakash Reddy, a Registration Department official Veerender and a government employee M. Rajender though middlemen. Before proceeding to pay the amount, the buyers had checked the records with the Revenue officials and on June 25, 2005, the then Mandal Revenue Officer of Patancheru issued an endorsement letter.
“The following two freedom fighters: Bollu Bhahraiah and S. Devaiah, who were allotted government land in survey No. 343/1 situated at Ameenpur village of Patancheru mandal were granted pattas under GO Ms No. 1743 of Revenue Department dated 28-08-1958 and GO Ms. No 1110 of Revenue Department dated 26-06-1960. Hence the land allotted is alienable,” was the endorsement certificate issued by the MRO of Patancheru. On getting this certificate, they approached the concerned department at the Collectorate and made a second enquiry on whether these lands could be purchased. The buyers are claiming that the officials informed them there will no problem in purchasing the land.
“We paid about ₹ 40 crore to Mr. Jayaprakash Reddy, Mr. Veerender and Mr. Rajender and got the land registered. When we tried to start work on the land, they asked us to stop work stating that there were some problems that were need to be sorted out and assured us that they would address them. Finally, the revenue officials are stating that the land registration is not tenable in the court of law and we are no longer owners of the land. We had lost heavily, please do us justice,” asked Mr. Ravinder Reddy and Mr. Rao.
In a related development, one Veeresham of Shankarapally village in Ranga Reddy district has alleged that about 200 acres of land at Eedulanagulapally village was purchased by MLA T Jayaprakash Reddy and others. A sale deed was signed, but cheques issued by Mr Jayaprakash Reddy were not honoured and a case was pending at the court.
