HYDERABAD/VIJAYAWADA : A division bench of the High Court on Thursday adjourned the case hearing on Sadavarti Satram lands to October 3 in view of a related issue coming up for hearing before the Supreme Court on Friday. The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice M Ganga Rao was dealing with the PIL filed by Mangalagiri YSRC MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, complaining that the 83 acres of Sadavarti lands located in Chennai were sold in auction for a meager amount of `22.44 crore.
In August, the bench directed the State Government to conduct auction afresh fixing the minimum price as `27.44 crore. Aggrieved with the same, the highest bidder in the auction held earlier approached the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Satyanarayana Builders of Kadapa district succeeded in the fresh auction by offering to pay `60.30 crore.On Thursday, petitioner’s counsel P Sudhakar Reddy told the bench that the successful bidder in the fresh auction has failed to pay the bid amount of `60.30 croret. As per the rules, the successful bidder has to pay the amount within 48 hours from the auction date, he pointed out.
On the other hand, special counsel for AP D Ramesh submitted that the successful bidder went back in paying the amount following various stories published in newspapers after the auction conducted in Chennai. The bench asked whether the government was willing to give the above lands to the second highest bidder in the auction?
In reply, the special counsel said that the second highest bidder could be given the lands as per the guidelines of the tender. If the second bidder also do not come forward to pay the amount, then auction should be conducted again. He brought to the notice of the court about the petition filed by the successful bidder of the first auction held few months back before the Supreme Court. More clarity would come on the issue after the case hearing before the apex court on Friday, he added.
Meanwhile, MLA Ramakrishna Reddy demanded a CBI inquiry into the entire issue.
Govt open to getting more money for land: Naidu
Vijayawada: CM N Chandrababu Naidu said his government is open to getting more revenue for the exchequer through the sale of Satram lands. “We are working in the interest of the State. We will have to go by the law and at the same time, we should also expose those hurting the interests of the State,” the Chief Minister said.