Ayyanna Patrudu, Andhra Roads and Buildings Minister met the officials of Special Investigation Team (SIT,) on Friday near the AU Engineering College Grounds in Visakhapatnam. He submitted documents that pertain to the land scam which shook the district.
On July 19 he is expected to meet the SIT again with more details on the scam.
“I have full faith on SIT. The government is focused on taking action against those involved in the scams irrespective of party affiliations. It is unbelievable that land grabbers even mortgaged roads and took Rs. 190 crore loans from banks. I will submit those details also,” he said.
The scam deals with allegations of encroachments over several acres of land. It also tampers records with more than 100 complaints across the Visakhapatnam district.
It has been reported that it involves more than 1,000 acres of land in Madhurawada and Kommadi areas of Visakhapatnam. It has also kicked up a political storm in the State since it came to light.
Days after the scam came to light, the state had formed a SIT consisting of Police, Revenue and Law Department officials on June 11.
Last month, a public spat took place between Andhra ministers Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Ayyanna Patrudu. The incident took place after a letter written by Ganta Srinivas Rao to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
In his letter, Ganta Srinivas Rao demanded a thorough investigation by the CID or the CBI into the scam to prove the ‘facts.’
This had come after Patrudu had hinted Ganta’s involvement in the scam, telling media persons it was politicians who had migrated to Vizag, that were indulging in land scams.
However, the SIT did not satisfy the opposition parties who are demanding a CBI investigation into the scam.
The YSRCP President and Andhra Opposition leader, Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy had said several senior TDP leaders including Naidu were involved in the land scam which surfaced in Visakhapatnam.
“I assure you we will fight the government and not leave a single inch of land of the poor people with the land mafia. If we do not succeed in the fight, do not lose hope, for we will come to power in a year and bring back everything looted by the TDP leaders,” he claimed.
Earlier Naidu said, “I want to take action against the culprits at the earliest. If the scam is entrusted to the CBI, it would surely take two decades for the completion of the investigation. You give me the evidence today, I will take action tomorrow.”
