AP High Court on Tuesday granted a stay on all proceedings against media baron Ramoji Rao in a criminal complaint filed by M. Varma who gave his Vizag land on lease to Ramoji Rao for housing the Eenadu office.

Varma complained that Ramoji Rao illegally surrendered seven cents of his land to the state government for expansion of the road and in lieu of that claimed alternative land from the government without informing him. He complained that he was cheated by Ramoji Rao who got the alternative land registered in his name.

On a complaint by the land owner, the Visakhapatnam court ordered police to investigate and submit a report on the issue. After submission of the report which substantiated the claim of the land owner, the court asked Ramoji Rao to personally attend hearing of the case.

Ramoji Rao first tried to avoid personal attendance but had later complied with the court orders and attended hearings. And when he attended the court hearing of the case in the past, his henchmen tried to prevent media taking his photos in the court.

Even as the hearing in the Visakhapatnam court is about to come to a final stage, Ramoji Rao approached the High Court seeking a stay of the proceedings. Justice N. Ravishankar of the High Court stayed all the proceedings and posted the case for further hearing on July 5.