ED initiates probe into Amaravati land scam; Trouble for two Ex-ministers?
By Coreena Suares Published on 3 Feb 2020 9:01 AM GMT
- The land was purchased across six mandals – Amaravathi, Pedakakani, Tadikonda, Thulluru, Mangalagiri and Tadepalli.
- In total, land to the extent of 761.38 acres was purchased by 797 persons, of which 529 do not have PAN cards.
- Investigation revealed that purchases were made through cash to avoid income tax
Hyderabad: Enforcement Directorate has initiated probe in the Amaravati land scam. The sleuths are acting upon the case booked by AP’s Crime Investigation department against white ration cardholders who have purchased land parcels in and around Amaravati.
It is to note that, the Andhra Pradesh, police have registered a case under section 420 (cheating ), 506 r/w 120-B and section 3 (1) (g) & (p) of SC, ST (POA) Amendment Act 2015, against two former minister, Prathipati Pulla Rao and P. Narayana, besides middle man Bellankonda Narasimha Rao.
Pothiraju Bujji, a dalit women accused the trio that is the two ministers for cheating her, by obtaining her signatures on papers and creating fake documents. The ministers and the middle man are accused of occupying her land.
What did AP CID’s Investigation reveal?
The AP police have revealed that people without PAN and holders of white ration cards purchased large chunks of land by spending ‘huge money’. Most of the transactions were in cash to evade income tax, they said.
“The purchase of land indicates that the buyers did not declare their income and were avoiding payments towards income tax to the government," said an investigator.
The AP’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) examined land registration documents during 2014 and 2015 in Amaravati. During the course, it came to light that large cash transactions had taken place in purchasing land parcels.
Examples:
In Amaravati Mandal, that was once meant to be the capital, 131 white cardholders purchased 129.8 acres of land of whom 90 do not have PAN cards. In Thulluru Mandal, 242.94 acres of land was purchased by 238 buyers, and police found 86 of them didn't have PAN cards. Similar modus operandi was discovered at Pedakkani, Tadikonda, Mangalagiri and Tadepalli.
“At present, the total open market valued at Rs 161.23 crore, but still the open market value for an extent of 207.72 acres has yet to be received. The approximate value will be Rs 60 crore. Hence the total open market value for the land purchased by white ration cardholders will be around Rs 220 crore," said a CID officer.
