HYDERABAD: A racket involving revenue officials and some others in the sale of 116 acres of assigned lands, valued at Rs.14 crore, near Tirupati, was unearthed by sleuths of the Vigilance and Enforcement Department.

The lands were allotted to landless poor over 12 years ago at B.N. Kandriga, which falls under the Satyaveedu special economic zone (SEZ). However, the beneficiaries did not develop the land as it had rocks and bushes.

Exploitation of rules

They told vigilance officials that they had subsequently sold their lands.

Exploiting the rules under G.O. 1045 (revenue), which allows freedom fighters and ex-servicemen to sell the assigned lands after being in possession for 10 years, the documents were fabricated to show that the lands were assigned to freedom fighters more than 10 years ago, official sources told The Hindu.

Records were fabricated to show that seven freedom fighters from Guntur were given 15 acres each and two ex-serviceman from Nellore and Chittoor five acres each. The fraud came to light when officials verified the no-objection certificates issued by the Mandal Revenue Officer for the sale of the assigned lands. The freedom fighters reportedly told officials that they were neither aware that lands were assigned in their names at B.N. Kandriga nor had they ever visited the place.

Probe in districts

Their signatures were obtained after paying each one of them — amounts ranging from Rs.5,000 to Rs.9,000 — apparently to legitimise the purchase from the landless poor.

Besides launching investigation into similar cases in other districts, the vigilance wing has recommended to the Government to register criminal cases against officials and others involved in fabricating the records.

The lands would be restored to the original beneficiaries since the Andhra Pradesh Assigned Lands Prohibition of Transfer Act of 1972 had stipulated that the assigned lands sold by a landless poor should be resumed and handed over back to the individual.

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