HYDERABAD: The public interest writ petition filed by the TDP alleging large-scale irregularities in the ORR project has been adjourned to Thursday to facilitate the Government to submit an official communication to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to inquire into the matter.

A heated exchange was witnessed when the case came up for admission on Wednesday before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy.

S. Ramachandra Rao, Senior Counsel appearing for the writ petitioners, narrated how the scheme was operated and who was behind it. He said that the guilty must be brought to book.

CBI probe

Advocate General C.V. Mohan Reddy informed the court that the Government had decided to seek probe by the CBI. At that stage, the court pointed out that the CBI probe must cover all aspects of the issue. The Bench did not appreciate the repeated use of the word `guilty' by the petitionersAfter the Bench declared the case as being adjourned, the Advocate-General brought to the notice of the court reports published in vernacular newspapers and complained that the forum of court was being used for political and publicity purpose.

When the Senior Counsel S. Ramachandra Rao and the Advocate General indulged in an exchange of words, the Bench repeatedly pointed out that everyone would be given an opportunity to be heard and asked everyone to maintain restraint.

TDP represented by N. Janardhan Reddy and others, in its petition alleged that poor farmers were deceived, threatened and coaxed to part with valuable lands in the name of issuing proposed land acquisition notifications and later withdrawing them. The frequent, large-scale re-alignments took place while finalising the project were brought to the notice of the court.

Documents running into hundreds of pages were filed by the petitioners to prove their contention that senior officers, politicians, and Congress leaders, including the Chief Minister, and their family members acquired lands worth crores of rupees. Apart from the Chief Minister, two Ministers --J.C. Divakar Reddy and Ponnala Lakshmiah --were made parties while the HUDA Chairman and some officers were made party respondents.

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