Sadavarthi Lands Sale Stalled; AP Govt Ordered To File Counter

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's efforts to transfer the valuable lands belonging to Sadavarthi temple situated in Chennai faced a setback with the Hyderabad High Court stalling the sale on Tuesday.

The lands of Guntur's Sadavarthi temple are situated on the outskirts of Chennai city and the income on the prime land is earmarked for the development of the temple and its purohits. However, the Chandrababu government had clandestinely sold off the lands to some private parties at a throwaway price of Rs26 lakh per acre while the market price in the area is Rs14 crore per acre.

Declaring that 388 acres out 471 acres was grabbed by others, the AP government issued an auction notice on March 12 this year to sell the remaining 83 acres. And finally it was sold off to a private party at a price of Rs26 lakh per acre while the market price is Rs14 crore per acre.

YSR Congree Party MLA from Mangalagiri Alla Ramakrishna Reddy contested the sale stating it was an underhand deal by the Chief Minister to benefit a few of his benamis.

The High Court while admitting the case directed the AP government to stall the issuance of sale deed to the purchasers and ordered it to file a counter within two week.

"The High Court order is a blow in the face of Chandrababu Naidu government," said Ramakrishna Reddy responding to the court order. The registration value itself is Rs7 crore in the area.