VIJAYAWADA: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) which has been probing into Rs 6,000 crore AgriGold scam, has given a clean chit to Agriculture Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao's wife by announcing that the lands purchased by her did not belong to AgriGold company.
CID chief and Additional DG Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao on Saturday said that the CID has probed into the allegations against Pulla Rao's wife that the lands she purchased were benami lands of AgriGold and found that it was baseless. The CID chief also announced that the allegations against YSRC leader Gowtham Reddy that he had purchased AgriGold lands were also unfounded. The lands bought by Gowtham Reddy did not belong to AgriGold, he said.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, Home minister Chinarajappa, who was also present at the press conference, said that that the TDP government was very keen to ensure repayment of money to victims of AgriGold. The AgriGold scam was a very sensational one and over Rs 6,000 crore money was collected by the company from depositors leaving them high and dry. Though the irregularities surfaced during the previous Congress regime, the first case was registered after the TDP came into power. Already seven key persons of the company including chairman and managing director AV Rama Rao have been arrested and 12 more persons are yet to be arrested. The government has announced Rs 10 lakh reward to whoever gives information that could lead to the arrest of 12 more persons, the Home minister said.
The government had been trying to clear the amounts of small depositors first by selling the properties. However, any step can be taken only with the permission of the High Court. Referring to big assets including Hailand Amusement Park, the Home Minister said that it had to wait since the High Court directed that the small parcels of lands should be sold first.
DGP N Sambasiva Rao said that in a record time, the CID has completed its inquiry and attached the assets of AgriGold and also "absoluted" by High Court in just 47 days. The attachment of properties was a regular process and in January 2017 also some properties have been attached. Details of entire attached assets have been submitted to the High Court. The CID has been working under the directions of the High Court and no person need to worry about anything, he added.
When asked about the value of the properties AgriGold attached by CID, the DGP said that it was about Rs 2,500 crore as per the government price and the market value would be quite high. The total land attached by CID was 21,709 acres and 86,555 sq yards, Sambasiva Rao said.
Referring to allegations that AgriGold funds were diverted to YSR Congress Party, the CID chief has said that a Chennai-based Forensic Charted Account Company has been appointed to check the accounts of AgriGold company. The FCAC has already completed 50 per cent of its work. The company has been probing if AgriGold money was diverted to any company, or parties, he said.
---
The facts of CID probe
---
19,18,882 Total no. of depositors
11,57,503. In AP
32,18,298 Total no. of accounts
19,48,737 In AP
Rs 6,385 crore Total amount collected
Rs 3,957 crore In AP
13,83,574 worth of Rs 1,182.17 crore 20,000 and below accounts in AP
Total properties attached
21,709 acres of land
86,555 sq yards of sites
Rs 2,500 crore worth of properties as per government records
It would be very high as per market value.
More properties in the name of benami were identified and attached including the land to an extent of 65.88 acres of Brahmamgari Matham, Kadapa