Brokers create fake pattas; sell 70 acres of farm land

• Genuine farmers protest, lodge complaint
• Collector orders probe
• 3-member panel to investigate fraud
• Chandigarh-based real estate company behind fraud
• Brokers sell land for Rs 1 lakh

Anantapur: The genuine farmers of Charupalli village in Nallamada mandal in the district, who were cultivating their lands since generations were in for a rude shock when it was revealed that their lands were allotted to others by issuing fake pattadar pass books. Such bogus pass books were being issued in villages like Cibadavandlapalli, Charupalli, Seereddyvaripalli, Polamaalapalli with the help of some brokers and bribes. The brokers, who work for a Chandigarh-based real estate company God Realtors Private Limited, have cheated the farmers by issuing bogus pass books or patta books and also falsely registered the land in the name of the company. It was alleged that nearly 70 acres of agricultural land belonging to the genuine owners was registered in the name of God Realtors and bogus pass books were issued. Moreover, each acre of land was sold for Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh. However, with differences cropping up between the brokers over the sharing of bribe or commission amount, the racket was exposed. The owners of the land, who got the wind of the fraud, were crestfallen and ran to the revenue and sub-registrar officials. Later, farmers in large numbers rushed to the District Collector Durgadas and poured out their woes. Responding immediately to their pleas, the District Collector ordered an enquiry into the racket by setting up a three-man committee comprising the concerned Penukonda Revenue Divisional Officer, District Registrar and the District Rural Development Agency Project Director. He assured the farmers that the government would not remain as silent spectator if the farmers were deprived of their lands in this manner. Intervening on behalf of the farmers, the Puttaparthi MLA Raghunath Reddy told the Collector to initiate criminal proceedings against the brokers or middlemen, who issued the bogus pass books and made false registrations. He said that the 70 acres of land should be returned to the farmers who were the genuine owners. Speaking to the media here on Monday, some of the affected farmers Ashwathanarayana, Shiva Reddy, and Naryana Reddy said that they also met the Superintendent of Police in the district and lodged a complaint. They demanded stringent action against the culprits who grabbed their lands.