Act against cine housing society ex-president: Union

Manikonda: The Chitrapuri Porata Samiti (Struggle Committee), which has been formed to look into the irregularities in Cine Workers’ Cooperative Housing Society in Chitrapuri Colony, Manikonda, of Gandipet mandal, Ranga Reddy, on Wednesday, demanded a judicial commission to probe the “biggest scam in Telangana State’s history.” Putting forth the demand, S Srinivasa Rao, who was elected as the president of the society on December 22, 2018, following the adoption of a no-confidence motion on December 10 against the then president Komara Venkatesh, said the need for a judicial commission would be placed before TRS Working President K Taraka Rama Rao (KTR).

Giving the details of the scam, Rao explained that 1,500 additional members have been enrolled as members of the society by Venkatesh, who is claimed to have produced a film called, ‘Sher,’ after allegedly illegally collecting  Rs 5 to 10 lakh from each. He said the samiti leaders would also meet DGP of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to press for an inquiry into the assets of Venkatesh. Rao and other samiti leaders alleged that the society has 4,213 row and duplex houses for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG) and High Income Group (HIG). The number of members should not cross the figure. However, on March 23 in 2018 the total members were shown as 5,767. The leaders pointed out that the society on August 17, 2014, had announced that 1,600 members were removed as members.

The leaders said that the society spread over 67.16 (18) guntas was established for the benefit of cine workers employed in 24 departments by the late actor Dr M Prabhakar Reddy and others. They said Venkatesh, whom they described as a supplier of junior artists, faced many allegations of corruption, including making ‘Sher’ at a cost of Rs.10 crore, having shares in a wine shop at Narsingi, owning a site in Gachibowli, two luxury cars and having connections with SNL project. Rao and other leaders said they would urge ACB to utilise the assets of Venkatesh for the welfare of cine workers. They asserted that their fight would continue till justice was done to the cine workers, while appealing to those who failed to secure houses in Chitrapuri to join the struggle.