Arguments to continue in Bhoodan lands case

The Telangana High Court will hear arguments in a criminal revision case seeking a direction to issue First Information Report against senior IAS officer Navin Mittal over alleged fraudulent transactions relating to Bhoodan lands in Maheshwaram mandal of Rangareddy district, for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

The criminal revision case was filed by a businessman Dastagir Shareef after a local court dismissed his private complaint for registration of a criminal case against the top official. In his complaint, he charged that during the tenure of Navin Mittal as custodian of the Bhoodan Yagna Board, transactions were permitted over lands falling under the jurisdiction of the board.

He alleged that the IAS officer and a revenue officer Md. Mahmood Ali permitted these alleged illegal transactions. The 17th Additional Metropolitan Magistrate of Rangareddy district dismissed the private complaint. The businessman moved the HC seeking a direction to set aside the lower court order and registration of case against the officer.

The petitioner contended that the magistrate erred in dismissing the complaint even before the matter was investigated into. Justice K. Sujana of the HC adjourned the hearing to Tuesday.