Land row: Bhoodan board issues eviction notices

Hyderabad: Telangana Bhoodan Yagna Board has issued eviction notices to allottees of 50 acres of Bhoodan land in Nagaram village in Maheshwaram mandal in Rangareddy district, alleging illegal transactions. The move followed a report by Enforcement Directorate, which was submitted to the director general of police under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.ED submitted the findings to the DGP, recommending filing of FIRs against Rangareddy ex-district collector Amoy Kumar, mandal revenue officer Jhansi and revenue divisional officer Venkatachary. The report also highlighted several complaints, citing a similar modus operandi in all the transactions.The notices were served on EIPL Group and four persons — Khaderunissa, N Santosh Kumar, Bobbili Vishwanath Reddy and Maheswaram — under the Telangana Bhoodan and Gramdan Act. The Bhoodan Board directed EIPL to respond with proof supporting its claim over the land in survey No. 181. A hearing was scheduled for representatives of EIPL to present any documentary or recorded evidence before the secretary of the Bhoodan Board. ED's Hyderabad unit, investigating land irregularities in Maheshwaram, said in its report the 50-acre transaction was part of broader irregularities involving 100 acres of Bhoodan land. ED pointed out violations of rules in alienating Bhoodan land.Despite earlier complaints, police did not register cases. ED's report reiterated need for fresh FIRs under section 66(2) of PMLA to investigate alleged land irregularities. Bhoodan Board's action and ED's findings underscore significant concerns over the misuse of Bhoodan lands, originally meant for charitable redistribution, sources said.