Andhra Minister Ayyanna Patrudu meets SIT, submits 'proof' on Vizag land scam

Andhra Roads and Buildings Minister Ayyanna Patrudu met Special Investigation Team officials near AU Engineering College Grounds in Visakhapatnam on Friday and submitted documents, pertaining to the land scam that shook the district.

He is expected to meet the SIT again on July 19, 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 told mediapersons.

The scam deals with allegations of encroachments over several acres of land and tampering of records, with more than 100 complaints from across Visakhapatnam district.

It is reported to involve more than 1,000 acres of land in Madhurawada and Kommadi areas of Visakhapatnam, and has kicked up a political storm in the state since it came to light.

On June 11, days after the scam came to light, the state had formed an SIT consisting of Police, Revenue and Law Department officials.

A public spat between Andhra ministers Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Ayyanna Patrudu also came out in the open last month, after a letter that the former wrote to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu surfaced.

In his letter, Ganta had demanded a thorough probe by the CID or the CBI into the scam, to prove the 'facts'.

This came after Patrudu had hinted Ganta's involvement in the scam, telling media persons that it was politicians "who had migrated to Vizag, that were indulging in land scams."

However, the SIT has not satisfied the Opposition parties, who are demanding a CBI probe into the scam.

YSRCP President and Andhra Opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy has claimed that several senior TDP leaders including Naidu were involved in the massive land scam that surfaced in Visakhapatnam.

Stating that all accused would be put behind bars if his party was voted to power in 2019, he also hit out at Naidu for not going ahead with a CBI enquiry on the scam. 

“I assure you that 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, don't lose hope, for we will come to power in a year and bring back everything looted by TDP leaders," he claimed.

Defending the SIT, Naidu had earlier said, "I want to take action against the culprits at the earliest. If the scam is entrusted to the CBI it would take two decades for the completion of the investigation. You give me evidence today, I will take action tomorrow."