TSCHE chief denies graft charges

Hyderabad: The Congress has demanded severe action against TS Council of Higher Education chairman T. Papireddy accusing him of corruption, including buying lands on a large scale.

TPCC official spokesperson Kanagala Mahesh told newsmen at the Gandhi Bhavan on Monday that Mr Papireddy purchased 18 acres of land in Nalgonda-Medak district border in December 2014, almost immediately after his appointment as chairman of the Council. He also alleged that Mr Papireddy moved from Kukutpally Housing Board Colony into luxurious villa owned by him in Miyapur after becoming the chairman. He alleged that Mr Papireddy was also involved in Eamcet-2 question paper leakage last year and demanded that he quit as the chairman voluntarily owing to his involvement in corruption as well as in the leakage of Eamcet-2 paper.

However, stating that the accusation was baseless, Mr Papireddy said that there was no truth in the allegation that he and his wife bought lands.

He said he and his wife had both retired in 2014 and had wanted to buy lands with their savings. He said he had even entered into an agreement by paying '30 lakh, but instead of the land shown earlier, the owner changed the site and showed another plot that he did not like.

“I filed a case against the owner to get back my money. The case is still pending. I don’t have the land and the money is also not with me now. Where is the question of holding huge tracts of land?” Mr Papireddy asked. Referring to the allegation that he moved into a luxurious villa, he clarified that he was staying there on rent and does not own it.

He pointed out that as chairman of the Council, he is entitled to take a bungalow on rent.

As far as Eamcet-2 paper leakage is concerned, the investigation has been completed and the police has arrested all the key persons involved in the case, Mr Papireddy said. He maintained that he does not have anything to do with the leakage.