Important files, several computers and furniture were gutted in a major fire that broke out at the newly constructed building of the Sub-Collector’s office at Madanapalle in Annamayya district at around 11.30 p.m. on Sunday. The incident.occurred shortly before the arrival of the new Sub-Collector, Megha Swaroop, who was scheduled to assume the office on Monday.
Madanapalle is the biggest revenue division in the entire country. There were allegations of illegal land acquisitions and allocations during the YSRCP’s tenure, especially those related to the hundreds of acres of 22-A and assigned lands in Tamballapalle, Madanapalle, Punganur, and Piler Assembly constituencies under the Madanapalle Revenue Division. Important land records also included irrigation projects and land acquisition for national and State highways.
Former Minister and key leader of YSRCP Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, who is the current MLA of Punganur constituency, is said to be the mastermind behind this conspiracy. He and his son Mithun Reddy have been facing a lot of allegations for illegal encroachment of lands with abuse of power. Fearing that the new government will probe into the irregularities committed in the revenue department in cahoots with some of the senior officers in the division, the fire accident has been orchestrated.
As soon as the news about this mishap broke out, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu took stock of the situation and immediately ordered a high-level probe into the incident. DGP Dwaraka Tirumala Rao and CID Chief Ravi Shankar Ayyannar inspected the spot and conducted preliminary enquiry after reaching there on a special helicopter.
The DGP stated that the manner in which the incident happened gives way for suspicion of criminal conspiracy. He alleged that it appears to be an incident but not an accident and stated that the conspirators will soon be caught after a thorough investigation.
He alleged the role of YSRCP leaders in the incident and certain officials. Manual records of land documents were burnt to destroy the evidence of irregularities and escape scrutiny, he said.
With allegations about the delayed police response and gathering of forensic evidence being levelled, orders were issued to seize the CCTV footage and collection of cellphone data of the individuals present at the building.