Telangana: Health portfolio transferred to CM; Eatala now minister without portfolio
Eatala Rajender, who represents Huzurabad constituency, is in thick of a controversy following allegations 5hat he had forced farmers to transfer assigned lands so that he could start a hatchery.
Hyderabad: Minister Eatala Rajender was divested of his Health and Family Welfare portfolio which has been transferred to Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao with immediate effect. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan issued the orders here on Saturday based on the recommendations of the Chief Minister. Technically, Rajender will now be a Minister without a portfolio. Meanwhile, officials of the Revenue Departments, Vigilance and Enforcement (V&E) wing and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) expedited the investigation into the allegations of land encroachment by the Minister at Achampet and Hakimpet villages of Masaipet mandal in Medak district, even as more charges of land encroachment surfaced against Rajender.
It was alleged that Rajender and his aides encroached upon lands worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore in Devaryamjal and Pudur villages of Medchal-Malkajgiri district on the outskirts of Hyderabad. About 174.16 acres of land was allegedly grabbed by his close confidants in Devaryamjal. They are believed to be his frontmen (benamis). Sources say that around 30.61 acres of endowment lands were notarised under the name of Rajender’s wife Jamuna.
It may be recalled that the farmers of the Achampet and Hakimpet villages complained to the Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao about the alleged encroachment of nearly 100 acres of assignment lands in Masaipet mandal for setting up poultry farms. The Chief Minister had ordered for two simultaneous investigations by Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and Vigilance DGP Purnachander Rao into the allegations.
In his report to the government, Medak Collector A Harish was reported to have confirmed that a hatchery was constructed and roads were laid in the assignment lands occupied by Jamuna Hatcheries after a preliminary inquiry. Based on this preliminary report submitted to him on Saturday, the Chief Minister divested Rajender of his portfolio.
The officials of Revenue, Anti Corruption Bureau and Vigilance Departments descended upon Achampet and Hakimpet villages on Saturday morning and commenced investigations into the allegations. From morning onwards the officials arrived in teams and started interacting with the farmers in both the villages. Police pickets were arranged in the villages to instill confidence among villagers and also ensure that the probe was conducted in a hassle-free manner.
Nearly 10 teams of officials led by Toopran Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Ramprakash, V&E SP Manohar, DSP Anand and other officials conducted different inquiries and collected information from the farmers and other locals. Field and digital surveys of lands belonging to Jamuna Hatcheries as well as the assigned lands and lands owned by the locals in the surrounding areas were conducted in about 170 acres at Hakimpet and Achampet villages in survey numbers 130, 111, and 81.
Meanwhile, a large number of Eatala Rajender’s supporters disrupted vehicular traffic movement on Rajiv Rahadari by staging a road blockade
“I have decided not to approach the Chief Minister or others and instead, will wait for the completion of investigations into the allegations levelled against me. I will speak only after the reports are submitted to the government and decide the future course of action,” Rajender told mediapersons. He also thanked the officials, employees, doctors, paramedical and nursing staff of the Health and Medical Department for their cooperation during his term as the Minister.
Also read:
Eatala Rajender accused of land grabbing, faces probe
Probe begins into land grab charges against Eatala Rajender
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