CID Intensifies Tirupati TDR Scam Probe; Officials Under Scrutiny
Tirupati: Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has ramped up its investigation into the alleged Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) bonds scam in Tirupati, following a directive by the state government to uncover potential corruption and misuse of funds.
Recently, CID officials met the municipal commissioner and sought documents related to roads under the Tirupati City Master Plan. Sources said of the 42 proposed master plan roads for the city’s development, 16 have been constructed and two are in various stages of progress. These road projects have affected approximately 1,415 residential plots, with 1,069 of plot owners becoming eligible for TDR bonds. To date, 298 of these bonds have been issued.
The scandal surfaced when opposition parties at the time, including Telugu Desam, BJP and Jana Sena, accused the YSRC government of widespread corruption in distributing TDR bonds to plot losers. They claimed market values of plots had been artificially inflated to benefit YSRC members who obtained these bonds through questionable means.
The then NDA coalition had also alleged that civic officials and administrators forcibly took over lands under the guise of laying roads under the master plan, contributing to the TDR bond irregularities.
During his campaign prior to the elections, then TD chief and current Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu vowed to issue TDR bonds to eligible individuals and take action against those involved in the TDR scam.
Recently, municipal affairs minister Ponguru Narayana and Tirupati MLA Arani Srinivasulu admitted to irregularities in issuance of TDR bond issuance and promised justice to those affected.
In a recent development, the government has transferred Bala Subrahmanyam, assistant city planning officer of Tirupati, amid the ongoing investigation into the TDR scam ordered by the Naidu-led government. Subrahmanyam has been accused of favouring YSRC and allegedly distributing TDR bonds to ineligible individuals.
Sources suggest that some more officials of the Town Planning department are likely to face action soon. TD leaders are also demanding action against former municipal commissioners for their alleged involvement in the scam.
Sources indicated that the TD-led government is further considering formation of a committee to identify eligible recipients of TDRs.
