Uttam demands court-monitored CBI probe into land scam

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (tpcc) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday demanded a court-monitored CBI probe into the Miyapur land scam.

Accompanied with Leaders of Opposition K. Jana Reddy (Assembly) and Mohammed Ali Shabbir (Council), ex-PCC President V. Hanumantha Rao, MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, ex-minister P. Sabitha Indira Reddy, Ranga Reddy DCC president Kayam Mallesh and other senior leaders, Uttam Kumar Reddy visited the land scam areas in Miyapur on Wednesday.

Speaking to media persons later, Uttam Kumar Reddy asked as to why Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao was afraid of ordering a CBI probe into the land scam if he has nothing to fear. He said the reluctance to CBI probe by the Chief Minister clearly indicates that he was trying to hide something and shielding the guilty. He alleged that the TRS Government did nothing to protect the government lands in the city and its outskirts. Citing an instance, he said that the land in Miyapur, from where Congress leaders addressed a press conference, had no fencing or a sign board saying that the land belonged to government.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also demanded that the State Government place the S.K. Sinha report on government lands in public domain. He alleged that the Chief Minister gifted the government lands to legislators who defected to TRS from opposition parties. Citing instance, he alleged that 10 Acres of land was given to Kukatpally MLA Krishna Rao through Goldstone Prasad. He said another 4 acres of land in Hafizpet was allotted to MLA Redya Naik's daughter. Likewise, nearly 1100 acres of government land was given to MLA Vijaya Kumar of Khammam district. He alleged that KCR family members, ministers and officials of CMO were involved in Rs. 15,000 Crore land scam. He said if KCR family was not connected to the Miyapur land scam then in what capacity Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha attended the review meeting held by the Chief Minister on Tuesday on the issue.

The TPCC Chief said that the Chief Minister has failed to provide promised three acres of land to each Dalit family. The TRS Government is also unable to find land for construction of double bed room houses for poor in the city. He advised the Chief Minister to construct one lakh 2BHK units for poor in the Miyapur land.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014, Governor  E.S.L. Narasimhan was the custodian of Law and Order and properties in Greater Hyderabad. Therefore, he said that the Governor should immediately intervene into the matter and direct the State Government to order a CBI probe into the scam. He said that the Congress party would also make representation with the Centre on the land scam.

The TPCC Chief also demanded a White Paper on the government lands in Miyapur, Medchal, Hafizpet, Hyder Nagar, Ibrahimpatnam, Shamshabad and Bandlaguda.

Leader of Opposition Shabbir Ali and ex-MP V. Hanumantha Rao also spoke.

According to sources, the Congress leaders would meet the Governor on Thursday on the issue and would decide the future strategy in the Congress Legislature Party meeting to be held later in the day.