The Times of India
HYDERABAD, INDIA, June 3, 2005: The temple lands scam which rocked the endowments department this week runs much deeper than seems on the surface, says this Times of India article. Everything with regard to the sale of land belonging to the Seetharama Chandra Swamy temple at Devarayamjal in Shaikpet mandal happened with the full knowledge and approval of Andra Pradesh’s endowments minister, M. Satyanarayana Rao, top sources said. Endowments commissioner I. Venkateshwarlu and five other officials are facing an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation for selling 245 acres of temple land at prices far below the market rates, causing a loss of approximately US$690,000 to the exchequer. A couple of government orders (GOs) issued by the then principal secretary (revenue) J.P. Murthy relating to the Devarayamjal transaction raise many questions. The minister has pleaded ignorance about the entire issue, but these orders, GO Ms No. 966 and GO Ms No. 508, issued in April and May, days before Venkateshwarlu’s retirement, would not have been possible without the approval of Satyanarayana Rao, sources said. As per government rules, a GO cannot be issued without the signature of the minister concerned.
Out of the 1,036 acres of land the Seetharama Swamy temple had, Venkateshwarlu sold 161 acres for prices ranging from approximately US$ 800 to US$ 1,260 per acre against the market prices of approx. US$ 5,700. The buyers allegedly include the relatives of some top politicians, sources told the Times of India. The government issued GO Ms NO. 810 prohibiting registration of temple lands in about 91 survey numbers on Oct 14, 2004. This order was issued by Murthy. Two weeks before Venkateshwarlu’s retirement, it issued another order (GO Ms No. 966) withdrawing the earlier notification (GO Ms No. 810) allowing the endowments commissioner to use his powers “judiciously and in the best interest of the institution.” These orders were issued by Murthy. The secretary could not have issued the orders without the minister first signing the draft file, top sources said.