Shankar Rao to face more charges

HYDERABAD: The noose is tightening around the neck of former minister and Secunderabad Cantonment MLA P ShankarRao, who is already in trouble as the Hyderabad police are waiting for an opportunity to arrest him. Now, Crime Investigation Department (CID) sleuths are mulling adding new sections, both under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other laws, to the existing charges during the course of the Greenfield land dispute case investigation.
A few days ago, the CID officials, while requesting sanction to prosecute ShankarRao under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, also reportedly informed the government that additional sections under the IPC and other relevant laws would be added during the course of the investigation, as prima facie they found that some more charges could be applicable in the alleged fraud committed by ShankarRao, his brother Dayanand and their associates.
"Besides the PC Act, the Benami Transaction Act, the AP Land Grabbing Act, the Income Tax Act, the Representation of People Act, IPC sections 182 (giving false information to a public servant in order to cause him to use his lawful power to the injury or annoyance of any person), 152 (assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot), 464 (making a false document), 503 (criminal intimidation — Whoever threatens another with any injury to his person, reputation or property), 199 (false statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence), 177 (furnishing false information), 181(knowingly stating to a public servant on oath as true that which is false) and other relevant sections were mentioned by the CID officials in their recent letter to the government,'' complainant S Chandrasekhar, president of Greenfields Plot Owners' Association, told TOI.
The CID officials recently held a meeting with the victims of Greenfield layout and verified documents submitted earlier as evidence and corroborated the documents gathered by the investigators. The CID officials during their investigation had already
found that Shankar Rao had abused his official position as a public representative and which was also reportedly substantiated by a letter written by then Malkajgiri tehsildar P Narasimha Rao on June 1, 2012 to the then Rangareddy district collector.
"Since ex-minister is involved in this and also to avoid legal complications in this matter and he is also threatening not to demolish the structure which has come up now in the late night. I, request kindly entrust the demolition work in Sy. No. 373, Kanojiguda, Alwal village to land protection staff, Collectorate, Ranga Reddy district and take necessary action against P Dayanand, who is encouraging such type of activity in government land situated in Kanojiguda, Alwal village, so as to enable this office to protect the government land and to avoid legal complications from encroachments," the letter said.
In the same letter, Narasimha Rao had also mentioned that Dayanand threatened the officials of tehsildar's office with dire consequences when they went to demolish a compound wall besides abusing them in unparliamentarily words.
When contacted, additional director-general (CID) T Krishna Prasad said no additional sections were added as on Sunday. "During the course of investigation, depending on the evidence, new sections will be added. However, as of today the investigation is sealed with the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant sections under the IPC against Shankar Rao,'' Krishna Prasad added.