SC stays Telangana HC's probe into govt land fraud in Shamshabad

HYDERABAD: The Supreme Court has stayed the Telangana HC's probe into fraudulent ownership claims over 100 acres of govt land in Shamshabad. A Supreme Court bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal passed this interim order after hearing a special leave petition filed by Mohammed Taher Khan of Hyderabad challenging the HC order against his claim.

On April 10, a bench headed by Justice T Vinod Kumar of the Telangana HC concluded that Khan's claim was based on fabricated documents and directed the state to constitute a special investigation team to probe. He directed the judicial registrar of the HC to file an FIR before Charminar police station as the claimant went to the extent of creating fake judicial orders to grab govt land. The HC bench passed this order while hearing a plea by HMDA which questioned a Rangareddy civil court order.

Putting forward the case of HMDA, additional advocate general T Rajanikanth Reddy said litigants have been resorting to fraudulent means to grab govt land to the extent of 180 acres (including the current 100 acres) at Shamshabad acquired by the state in 1990.The HC bench had a probe done internally and concluded that the claimants created judicial orders purported to have been passed in 1988 in the name of Justice N D Patnaik, who was not even elevated as an HC judge at that time.

The bench ordered fresh FIR and a probe by govt. It directed the registrar to ensure all judicial officers are warned not to act upon the fabricated orders. The HC ordered status quo in the land case until further investigation. It was this order that was challenged by Taher Khan in Supreme Court. The apex bench issued notices to the state and stayed the HC order.