Minister Jagadish Reddy is involved in Rs. 150 Cr land scam: Congress

Hyderabad : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Spokesperson Dr. Dasoju Sravan demanded the dismissal of Energy Minister Jagadish Reddy for his alleged involvement in a Rs. 150 crore land scam.

Addressing a press conference along with AICC member Ramreddy Sarvottam Reddy at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday, Sravan said that despite availability of 250 acres of government land, private land was purchased for the construction of Suryapet District Collectorate. He said land was purchased from Sri Sai Developers at the rate of Rs. 18 lakh per acre. Further, nearly 150 acres of surrounding land was purchased and sold after doing plotting by increasing the land value. He alleged that Minister Jagadish Reddy holds 20% of share in the real estate firm in the name of a benami Saidi Reddy, a Canada-based NRI. He said Jagadish Reddy has amassed huge illegal wealth by indulging in several land scams.

Sravan alleged that the minister, through Saidi Reddy, had purchased Kamakshi Engineering College for Rs. 8 crore. The same building was given for Collectorate on an annual rent of Rs. 80 lakh. In return, Jagadish Reddy got 20% stake in the real estate firm. He said that the State Exchequer suffered huge losses as nearly 25 acres of land was purchased at rates higher than market value. He alleged that the worth of total land scam was nearly Rs. 150 crore.

The Congress leaders reminded that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had promised to take stern against those who indulge in corruption and irregularties. He said even a toll free number was started by the government to receive complaints of corruption. However, he said that the Chief Minister is not taking any action against his cabinet minister who corrupt practices got exposed before people. He said that the Chief Minister had removed a Madiga leader Dr. T. Rajaiah from the post of Deputy CM unceremoniously for his alleged involvement in corruption. But he is hesitating to take similarly action against Jagadish Reddy.

Sravan alleged that the minister had invested the ill-gotten wealth in purchasing a farm house in Nalgonda in connivance with the owners of Kesineni Travels and Chinni. He also alleged that the minister has been demanding 6% commission in nearly Rs. 600 crore worth works being executed by the R&B Department. The minister is threatening to create obstacles in execution of works if commission is not paid, he alleged.

He pointed out that while the government is constructing MLA Quater in each Assembly constituency at a cost of Rs. 1 crore, Jagadish Reddy is constructed a building worth Rs. 2 crore on a land valued at nearly Rs. 20 crore. He alleged that Jagadish Reddy appears to be enjoying the full support of the Chief Minister in carrying out his illegal activities. He said Jagadish Reddy had made huge assets due to his proximity with gangster Nayeem. He said that the government has hushed up the cases of slained gangster Nayeem by not ordering a CBI enquiry.

Sravan demanded that the State Government order a comprehensive enquiry into the land scam and immediately sack Jagadish Reddy from the cabinet. He said that the Congress party was ready to furnish evidences against the minister to the investigating agencies. He said if the government hush up Jagadish Reddy's land scam then it would assumed that KCR too was part and parcel of it.