Probe confirms scam

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 4, 2012: The vigilance and enforcement department which was asked to probe into the alleged Rs.542 crore worth land scam involving several staff of the Visakhapat-nam Urban Development Authority (Vuda), found prima facie evidence of widespread violations in land allotments by the Vuda.

Responding to reports in a section of the media, the Vuda vice chairman, Mr K. Sasidhar, submitted a report to the municipal administration department about alleged irregularities in various layouts developed by the urban development authority in Rushikonda, Madhurawa-da and many other areas.

The department of municipal administration and urban development issued GO RT No: 341 on March 21, entrusting the job of probing into the alleged irregularities to the vigilance and enforcement wing and asked it to submit its report within 3 months.

Highly placed sources in the vigilance and enforcement department said that during their probe, special teams could gather vital evidence to establish that widespread irregularities had taken place in various land allotments by mid level staff of Vuda in connivance with private persons; this was known by some senior officials.

The vigilance team was supposed to submit its report to government by June-end.

However, questioning of some more persons is pending, and the report may take a week more to be submitted.

“We have almost completed the inquiry, but have to record statements and question a few more persons; this may take one more week. After that we will submit the report,” additional superintendent of police Mahendra Pa-trudu told this correspondent.