Hyderabad: Telangana high court on Wednesday declined to grant interim relief restraining the sale, registration or alienation of more than 400 acres of land in Kukatpally linked to GOCL Corporation, Hinduja Estates, Squarespace Infra City, Honor Homes and other private entities, while making it clear that any transactions in the disputed properties would be subject to the final outcome of the case.Justice NV Shravan Kumar directed the state govt and the departments concerned to file their counters within three weeks and adjourned the matter for further hearing.The directions came on a writ petition filed by Boduppal-based businessman Chinthala Srinivas Reddy, who alleged large-scale irregularities in the transfer of govt land into private hands with the connivance of revenue authorities and private parties.Appearing for the petitioner, counsel Pasham Krishna Reddy argued that the land, if auctioned by the govt, could fetch lakhs of crores of rupees and substantially boost state revenues. He alleged that portions of the land were originally allotted to GOCL for establishing a knowledge park but were subsequently converted into residential layouts and sold for luxury villas and high-rise developments.“MNCs like TCS, Infosys and others have begun operations in lands allotted to them on the outskirts and are providing employment to thousands of people, but this company got land in 2009 in the heart of the city, but has not done anything yet,” he alleged.The counsel further contended that certain parcels within the disputed land had been attached by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case, yet were allegedly cleared for sale to multiple buyers.The petitioner also alleged that present and former collectors of Medchal Malkajgiri district, along with local revenue officials, misused their offices, causing a loss of around Rs 500 crore to the govt through unpaid stamp duty and other statutory charges.“They are also in the process of razing over 100 acres of forest forming a part of an abutting 700-acre forest,” alleged the petitioner.Seeking a detailed probe into the role of the officials concerned, the petitioner urged the court to halt all transactions relating to the land.Counsel for the state govt and the private respondents strongly disputed the allegations, maintaining that all land allotments, registrations and related transactions were duly recorded and legally valid. They sought time to file detailed counters and opposed any interim stay.After recording the submissions, Justice Shravan Kumar declined to grant interim relief at this stage, directed the respondents to file their replies within three weeks and clarified that any transactions undertaken meanwhile would remain subject to the final verdict in the case.
