Fresh inquiry ordered into Kanuru land scam

Vijayawada: The Kanuru land scam has taken a twist with the revenue administration directing Penamaluru tahsildar, V. Muralikrishna, to ready all the records of the disputed land. This is the first time that a tahsildar is also facing an inquiry following his alleged involvement in the the Rs 40-crore scam. 

While a few individuals, claiming ownership on the assigned land, have already started constructing the compound wall, the assignees of the land are not being permitted to enter the premises.

RDO S. Hareesh was instructed by district collector B. Lakshmeekan-tham, to personally inspect the land and submit a detailed report. 

Speaking on the same, the RDO told this correspondent that he would examine the facts in the case. The RDO has directed Mr Muralikrishna to make ready every document available during the time of inquiry, as the case dates back to 1930s. "I will submit a report within a week," the RDO said.

The tahsildar, earlier, said he had submitted a report on the same to the collector, in which he has stated that there was no controversy or dispute over the Kanuru land. 

" We have records of the assigned lands from 1970 and 1980, and also the transactions details," the tahsildar clarified and added that the aggrieved party could approach the proper platform. He said he had written to the Patamata Sub-Registrar Office (SRO), to get him the records from 1930. 

The tahsildar has no answer as to how the assigned lands were sold to a private party -- Siddartha Academy, three decades ago. 

The lands situated between Autonagar to Kanuru road, near Siddartha Adarsh residential school, were given to Dalits, before Independence, as per the available records. However, the tampered documents say in 1987, the same lands were registered in the names of a few people. The issue led to political unrest in Kanuru village, as the lands have high demand, in view of the new Capital city, Amaravati, being built nearby.

It is learnt that a few land grabbers have been trying their best to exert pressure on the revenue department to get the things done in their favour. 

However, district collector Lakshmeekantham has taken precautionary measures to keep the lobbyists away from the issue and also warned the tahsildar to restrain from encouraging them in this regard. 

In view of the huge proportion to which the Visakhapatnam land scam has grown, the Krishna district administration has directed the revenue officials to be very cautious with regard to assigned and disputed lands.