Revenue officials in Telangana on Sunday decided to take back several acres of land and an ashram, belonging to controversial 'godman' Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in the state’s Nalgonda district, along the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway.
The Dera Sacha Sauda founder was convicted of rape on Friday, following which widespread violence gripped Haryana and Punjab.
An ashram was constructed in 2008, at Veliminedu village of Chityal Mandal, spread over 56 acres with a 10-foot compound wall.
Locals had been fighting against the godman's ashram, demanding that he vacate the assigned land. Following the verdict of Panchkula CBI court, villagers stirred up their agitation.
Following the fresh complaints, Chityala Tehsildar and revenue authorities visited the site of the ashram this week.
According to revenue authorities, part of the land included in the Ashram is non-transferable assigned land, which the government can resume at any point of time. Despite government officials serving notices earlier, the case did not progress, TOI reported.
Speaking to media persons, Tehisildar Vanajakshi said, “As per rules, the government assigned land should not be given to private persons. Hence, the government will take back the land."
According to revenue officials, Dera Sacha Sauda had purchased 56 acres of land including 9 acres of assigned land to construct the ashram, TNIE reported.
According to a report in HT, villagers claimed that 15 out of 55 acres was allotted to the landless.
The HT report also quoted Tehsildar Vanjakshi saying, "As per the records, there is a piece of around 7.5 acres of assigned land. However, we would do a resurvey to find out the actual extent of the assigned land. As of now, we have not taken over this piece of land, because of the court decree. We shall report the matter to the government and act according to the directions,”