Ramoji, son surrender in Ushodaya land dispute

Media baron Ramoji Rao and his son Kiran surrendered before police on Wednesday...

Media baron Ramoji Rao and his son Kiran surrendered before police on Wednesday in connection with a land dispute case. They were later released on bail. Rao and Kiran, owners of the largest circulated Telugu daily Eenadu, surrendered in the Three Town Police Station here as per a directive of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. They were released on bail after executing the necessary sureties, Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner N Sambasiva Rao said.

On a petition moved by Rao, the High Court granted anticipatory bail to him and Kiran on February 11 subject to the condition that they would surrender before the police within ten days.

The case was filed by one N E K K Varma alleging that Rao and his son indulged in fraud. Varma said he had given 2.70 acres of land in Visakhapatnam on a 33-year lease to Ushodaya Publications owned by Rao in 1974.

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Ushodaya, of which Kiran is the MD, reportedly surrendered 517 sq yards to the Government for road-widening without the knowledge of Varma and in lieu of it obtained an alternative land and got it registered in its name.

After expiry of the 33-year lease period, Ushodaya approached Varma for renewal of the lease agreement. When the landowner noticed the change in land boundaries, he lodged a police complaint.

Rao, however, maintained that he never surrendered any land and, hence, the question of getting land in lieu did not arise.

The Police Commissioner said investigations were on and details would be submitted to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Visakhapatnam.