The CBI gave a clean chit to the Minister Botsa Satyanarayana in the Emaar land scam and also mentioned that officials kept him in the dark over some issues while issuing GOs.

As per the details mentioned in the charge sheet presented to the special CBI court at Nampally in the scam, IAS officials BP Acharya, LV Subramanyam and KV Rao took own decisions and either bought plots for themselves or recommended plots to several persons resulting in huge losses to the government.

Regarding the GO No. 22 dated Jan 27, 2005, the CBI said principal secretary K.V. Rao, industries, didn’t circulate the related file to the then major industries minister Botsa Satyanarayana, though he was present in the headquarters.

The file was circulated to the Minister only after the GO was issued and Botsa questioned the official for not circulating the file earlier to him. Botsa also questioned the officials for reasons for sending the file directly to the then Chief Minister YSR and not through him.

The minister also sought reasons from the official for deleting the clause that allowed lease rentals to three percent for 33 years on the Emaar’ golf course project.

Botsa asked Rao to make a note on the differences between the GO issued and the earlier orders and circulate it to him, finance minister and the CM. He also directed Rao to keep the GO in abeyance till proper changes were made in the GO and final approval obtained from the CM.

He then sent a secret note to the CM on March 17, 2005 about the changes to be made in the GO number 22.

The CBI also said in its charge sheet that many VIPs like Brahmani, daughter-in-law of TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, paid only at the rate of Rs.5000 per square yard while others paid at the rate of Rs.50000 for buying villas in the Emaar Township. (JUBS)